THE  HOUSE  afi 

IRON  MEN 


JACKSTEELE 


THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 


Mrs   Cree  clutched  her  quickly  by  the  arm,  her  own  face  blanched 
with  fear.  (Page  273) 


THE  HOUSE 


IRON 

oy 


ST 


FRONTISPIECE  •  IN-  COLOR 
Bv Clara  MBurd 


PUBLISHED-  BY-DESMOHD 
FITZGERALD7«c.  MEWTORK 


Copyright,  1911 

By  DESMOND  FITZGERALD,  IMC. 
All  Higkts  Reserved 


CONTENTS 


I.  A  BIRTHDAY  REMEMBRANCE       .      .  1 

II.  THE  WAY  OF  A  FIANCEE      ...  8 

III.  THE  SHOCK  OF  COMPLICATIONS  .      .  17 

IV.  VISITORS  AND  UNEASINESS      ...  23 
V.  STARTLING  DISCOVERIES   ....  34 

VI.  MISGIVINGS  AND  STRUGGLES   ...  41 

VII.  How  MYSTERIES  MAY  THICKEN    .  47 

VIII.  BAFFLING  ANSWERS  AND  A  FLIGHT  .  59 

IX.  THE  HOUSE  OF  CRIME     ....  72 

X.  A  RACE  IN  THE  STREETS  ....  84 

XI.  THE  COMITY  BALL 91 

XII.  THE  FIRES  OF  LOVE 97 

XIII.  JEROLD  GARRISON'S  CRAFT    .      .      .  107 

XIV.  A  TREACHERY 118 

XV.  AN  INQUISITION 125 

XVI.  A  METHOD  OF  TORTURE  ....  134 

XVII.  A  CREEPING  DEATH 143 

XVIII.  LIKE  A  PRIMITIVE  PAIR  ....  151 

XIX.  A  DESPERATE  CHANCB  ....  163 

XX.  A  NAVAL  ENGAGEMENT  ....  172 

XXI.  SOME  HALF-CONFESSIONS  .  .  .  179 

XXII.  A  STARTLING  DENOUEMENT  .  .  .  186 

XXIII.  IRIS  WRITES  A  LETTER     ....  195 

XXIV.  A  DEEPER  PLOT  SUGGESTED  .  202 


2138445 


VI 

CONTENTS 

CHAPTER 

PAGE 

XXV. 

GARRISON'S  REVELATIONS 

208 

XXVI. 

A  SEARCH  IN  THE  PARK  . 

220 

XXVII. 

A  CUP  OF  TEA    

228 

XXVIII. 

A  DREAD  AWAKENING     . 

236 

XXIX. 

THE  SIGN  OF  BUDDHA    . 

244 

XXX* 

Two  SIGNIFICANT  INTERVIEWS    . 

251 

XXXI* 

A  WEAVING  OF  PLOTS    . 

261 

XXXIL 

THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN   . 

269 

XXXIII. 

THEIR  HOUR  IN  THE  PARK  . 

277 

XXXIV. 

A  DRAMATIC  CLIMAX 

287 

XXXV. 

AN  UNFINISHED  MISSION 

294 

XXXVI. 

A  FIGHT  IN  THE  DARK    . 

300 

XXXVII. 

AN  HOUR  OF  RECKONING 

310 

XXXVIIL 

THE  SACRED  RUBY'S  SLAVE  . 

319 

XXXIX. 

BARBARA'S  DOCUMENTS    . 

330 

XL. 

THE  VITAL  MOMENT 

336 

XLI. 

EDEN    . 

341 

The  House  of  Iron  Men 

CHAPTER  I 

A    BIETHDAY   EEMEMBRANCE 

ONE  of  the  most  extraordinary  affairs  in  the 
criminal  and  social  annals  of  New  York  City 
began  in  the  offices  of  Julian  Vail,  Fifth  Avenue,  at 
the  logical  center  of  the  town,  on  the  17th  of  May, 
in  a  most  incredible  and  probably  unparalleled 
manner. 

It  was  Vail's  birthday — an  important  factor  in 
the  mystery  so  promptly  and  bafflingly  evolved. 
There  was  nothing  unusual  in  the  day  itself,  nor 
about  the  neighborhood  or  office,  which  was,  in  all 
significant  details,  the  counterpart  of  dozens  in  the 
building.  On  the  door  that  led  to  the  marble  hall 
was  a  legend  lettered  in  gold : 

"  JULIAN  W.  VAIL 

Railroads  „  . 

Private  " 

Beyond  were  the  two  smaller  rooms  of  the  suite, 
where  clerks,  stenographers,  and  other  busy  func- 


2  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

tionaries  strove  to  keep  pace  with  Vail's  activities 
in  commerce. 

On  the  afternoon  in  question,  when  Vail  and  Miss 
Iris  Puryn,  his  fiancee,  entered  at  his  private  door, 
there  was  nothing  extraordinary  in  the  suite,  except 
in  this  private  sanctum.  In  this  seat  of  modern 
forces  not  only  was  one  of  the  chairs  impressively 
overloaded  with  boxes  and  packages,  sent  in  remem- 
brance of  the  twenty-seventh  anniversary  of  Julian's 
birth,  but  also  the  most  impossible  "  present "  imag- 
inable was  standing  on  end  in  the  corner. 

It  appeared  to  be  a  monster  box  of  flowers — a 
great  white-cardboard  box,  nearly  six  feet  high  and 
two  across,  tied  with  a  pink  satin  ribbon  that  was 
six  inches  wide  at  the  least. 

For  a  moment  as  Vail  and  Miss  Puryn  paused  by 
the  door,  to  gaze  in  astonishment  at  this  colossal 
package,  neither  spoke.  Miss  Puryn's  face,  which 
was  placidly  and  conventionally  beautiful,  became  at 
once  a  mask  for  polite  emotions  of  surprise  and  curi- 
osity. For  not  only  was  the  size  of  the  box  past 
all  belief,  but,  across  its  front,  it  was  labeled  in  gold 
with  the  words: 

"A  Gift  of  the  Gods" 

Vail,  recovering  promptly  from  his  state  of  sur- 
prise and  incredulity,  smiled  in  his  cheeriest  manner. 
His  friends  had  prepared  an  elaborate  hoax,  per- 
haps a  mechanical  toy,  he  thought,  by  way  of  a 
birthday  joke.  But  Iris  was  first  to  speak. 


A  BIRTHDAY  REMEMBRANCE  3 

"  Well !  if  I  ever !  "  she  exclaimed.  "  What  in  the 
world  can  it  be  ?  " 

Vail  thrust  his  hand  in  his  pocket,  as  they  stood 
there  looking  at  the  box. 

"  It's  probably  a  railroad — a  lot  of  toy  cars,  loco- 
motives, track,  and  all  the  rest.  For  half  a  cent  I'd 
let  it  stand  unopened  and  wait  for  the  sender  to 
give  himself  away  by  asking  fool  questions  about 
it." 

But  his  speech,  as  he  turned  to  glance  at  the  chair, 
with  the  load  of  parcels  upon  it,  failed  in  a  rare  and 
notable  degree  to  allay  Miss  Puryn's  curiosity.  For 
some  inexplicable  reason  the  box  excited  her  unduly. 

"  I  hate  all  practical  jokes,"  she  said.  "  But  I 
don't  believe  it  is  a  joke.  I  feel  some  sort  of  pre- 
monition  "  And  then,  of  a  sudden,  came  a  change 

in  the  tone  of  her  voice.  "  Julian !  I  know  there  is 
something  wrong !  I  am  sure  I  saw  it  shudder  I  " 

"Shudder?"  said  Vail,  and  he  laughed.  "Oh, 
come  now,  Iris,  do  you  think  it's  a  package  of 
ghosts  ?  " 

The  girl  had  conceived  some  awe  of  the  package. 
Her  sensations  were  not  to  be  lightly  dismissed. 

"  It's  as  long  as  a  coffin — long  enough  to  hold  a 
skeleton ! " 

Vail  was  still  convinced  the  box  contained  a  toy 
prepared  by  the  boys  with  no  particular  occupation 
but  that  of  having  "  fun." 

"  But  skeletons  never  shudder,"  he  sai'd,  "  while 
railroads  frequently  do." 

Miss  Puryn  looked  at  him  disapprovingly. 


4  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

"  I  don't  feel  like  jesting  in  the  least,  over  such  a 
thing  as  that.  Someway  it  gives  me — creeps." 

Vail  assumed  a  tragic  air,  the  mockery  of  which 
he  felt  she  would  understand. 

"  Creeps !  You  don't  suppose  it's  a  railroad 
octopus  ?  " 

Iris  was  not  to  be  assured.  She  moved  behind 
the  desk, 

"  Please  don't  be  absurd,"  she  protested.  "  If  it 

should  be  anything  terrible What  do  you  mean 

to  do?  " 

Vail  was  striding  towards  the  great  white  box  to 
end  all  doubt  at  once. 

"Take  off  the  lid!" 

Iris  was  excited. 

"  Yes,  but — if  it's  anything  alive — a  reptile — ani- 
mals   I  was  certain  the  whole  thing  moved !  " 

"  Stop !  Look !  Listen !  "  said  Vail,  as  he  came 
to  the  box  and  placed  his  ear  against  the  cover. 

There  was  nothing  to  be  heard.  He  attempted  to 
lift  the  case's  weight,  and  was  thereupon  thoroughly 
surprised.  His  effort  failed  to  budge  it  from  the 
floor. 

"  Hum ! "  he  added,  more  impressed,  exerting  a 
strength  that  made  him  red.  "  It  must  be  a  gold 
brick,  I  should  say,  and  a  long,  wide,  thick  one  at 
that !  "  He  began  to  pull  at  the  ribbons. 

"  I — I  don't  know  whether  you'd  better  open  it 
or  not,"  stammered  Iris,  more  than  ever  appre- 
hensive. "  If  anything  should  jump  out  sud- 
denly   Couldn't  you  call  a  clerk?  " 


A  BIRTHDAY  REMEMBRANCE  5 

Vail  was  unfastening  a  knot. 

"  It  smells  of  nothing  but  violets.  Ah  I  Wire !  " 
he  exclaimed.  "  By  George,  it's  fastened " 

"  Oh,  please  be  careful !  "  Miss  Puryn  interrupted, 
her  dread  momentarily  increasing.  "  If  it's  fastened 
with  wire,  there  must  be  something  dangerous  in- 
side ! " 

"  We'll  see,"  said  Vail.  The  tone  of  his  voice  had 
undergone  a  change.  He  turned  to  the  desk  for  his 
scissors. 

Miss  Puryn,  with  one  knee  already  on  a  chair, 
glanced  from  the  man  to  the  box  once  more,  with 
widely  dilated  eyes.  Suddenly  she  let  out  a  cry, 
for  the  thing  had  certainly  heaved! 

"  Julian !  I  saw  it  move!  "  she  called,  in  affright 
to  the  man.  "  You've  got  to  summon  help — some 
officer — someone  to  come  and " 

"  There,  there.  Let's  not  excite  ourselves,"  he  in- 
terrupted, calmly.  "  We  are  still  in  my  office — and 
this  is  New  York — broad,  open  day  on  the  city's 
most  populous  thoroughfare.  No  friends  would  play 
a  dangerous  joke,  but  they'd  certainly  laugh  if  they 
heard  I  was  afraid  of  some  childish  toy." 

He  was  once  more  assailing  the  strands  of  wire 
that  bound  the  cover  to  the  box.  Miss  Puryn  made 
no  further  answer.  She  repressed  an  impulse  to  flee 
from  the  room  by  exerting  her  utmost  will.  She  eyed 
the  case  intently,  her  face  rather  white,  her  lips 
slightly  parted,  over  teeth  exceedingly  regular,  as 
her  breath  came  short  and  fast.  She  was  plainly  fas- 
cinated, absorbingly  curious,  and  excitedly  prepared 


6  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

at  a  second's  warning  to  climb  to  the  top  of  the 
desk. 

Vail,  sufficiently  curious  himself,  and  not  unaf- 
fected by  the  girl's  instinctive  alarm,  was  far  more 
cautious  than  he  appeared  as  he  toiled  at  the  wire 
with  his  shears. 

The  ribbon  had  spanned  the  box  in  both  direc- 
tions, up  through  the  center  of  its  length  and  across 
the  center  of  its  width.  When  it  fell  to  the  floor,  in 
a  shimmer  of  pink,  the  tough  iron  strand  it  had  quite 
concealed  was  seen  to  be  binding  the  lid  in  place 
with  two  independent  lengths  that  likewise  crossed 
at  the  center. 

One  of  these  Vail  was  enabled  to  untwist.  It  fell 
to  the  floor  like  a  liberated  spring  and  tapped  on  the 
box  where  it  struck. 

Iris  sprang  up  in  her  chair. 

"  Why  don't  you  call  a  clerk?  "  she  implored,  her 
utterance  tense  and  excited.  "  I  know  there  is  some- 
thing wrong!  I  know  that  something  is  going  to 
happen!  " 

"  We'll  know  the  worst  in  a  moment,"  said  Vail,  as 
he  snipped  through  the  wire.  "  Get  ready — to  laugh 
at  the  joke." 

Nevertheless,  with  the  wire  severed  and  thrust 
aside,  he  leaned  one  hand  with  all  his  weight  upon 
the  loosened  cover,  not  to  be  taken  by  surprise. 

Miss  Puryn's  eyes  were  blazingly  fixed  on  the  box. 
Her  attitude  was  one  of  rigid  preparation,  where  she 
waited,  ready  to  spring  to  a  height  of  safety  on  the 
desk. 


A  BIRTHDAY  REMEMBRANCE  7 

Vail  himself,  infected  by  her  sense  of  dread,  was 
thoroughly  alert  as  he  felt  and  listened  for  the  slight- 
est ominous  sign  to  issue  from  the  case. 

"  Now,  then — for  the  fire-emitting  dragon,"  he 
said,  and,  lifting  the  cover  loose  at  the  side  suffi- 
ciently to  glance  for  a  second  within  the  box,  he 
suddenly  uttered  a  chuckling  sound  and  wrenched  it 
away  with  decision. 

"  Behold !  "  he  said,  "  my  beautiful "  But  he 

halted,  sharply  bending  forward,  fixed  in  a  pose  of 
amazement  and  startled  emotions. 

Standing  there  upright  in  the  cotton-padded  case, 
her  brown  eyes  dazzled  by  the  light,  and  dazed  with 
the  strangeness  of  her  waking,  was  an  exquisite  girl 
— alive,  but  inert  as  a  stone! 


CHAPTER  II 

THE    WAY   OF    A    FIANCEE 

FOR  a  moment  Vail  and  his  fiancee  could  only 
stare  in  unbelief,  as  the  girl  gazed  blankly  upon 
them. 

The  whole  thing  seemed  preposterous,  some  wild, 
fantastic  imagining,  too  dream-like  for  anything  but 
folly.  Not  a  word  was  spoken  as  the  three  remained 
in  their  places,  unmoving,  attempting  to  reconcile 
what  they  saw  with  the  acceptable  facts  of  life. 

Slowly,  languidly,  as  one  made  captive  by  some 
year-old  slumber,  broken  at  last  by  magic  forces,  the 
girl  in  the  box  moved  her  eyes  and  turned  her  head. 

Into  the  milk-white  oval  of  her  cheeks  a  tint  of 
color  slowly  crept.  Her  red  lips  parted,  their  color 
singularly  vivid.  One  of  her  hands  slightly  stirred. 
A  look  of  alarm  and  inquiry  rose  with  the  steady- 
ing lights  that  tardily  returned  to  her  eyes. 

Vail — all  his  faculties  bent  and  riveted  upon  the 
contents  of  the  case — was  the  first  to  recover  reason. 

"  Good  Heavens !  "  he  said,  "  what's  the  meaning 
of  this  ?  "  and  he  touched  her  hand,  that  was  like 
mere  warming  clay.  "  How  in  the  name  of  rea- 
son  " 

"Julian!" 

8 


THE  WAY  OF  A  FIANCEE  9 

The  call  made  him  start,  as  Iris  at  last  found  her 
voice. 

She  had  come  a  little  forward,  some  utterly  femi- 
nine resentment  already  focused  on  the  girl,  whom 
Vail  for  a  moment  had  thought  a  doll,  encased  and 
sent  him  for  a  joke. 

"  Julian,  what — who  Is  this  girl?  "  she  demanded. 
"  Why  was  she  sent  to  you  ?  " 

He  looked  at  her  blankly. 

"  How  should  I  know  ?  I  don't  understand • 

She  is  only  half -alive.  The  explanation " 

"  There — on  he*  dress — there's  a  tag ! "  Miss 
Puryn  interrupted,  her  strength  and  impatience  with 
the  situation  rapidly  increasing  together.  "  If  she 
is  labeled — what  does  it  say?" 

Vail  cast  a  glance  at  the  helpless  girl  in  the  box, 
a  figure  of  innocence  bound  and  delivered  to  the 
fates — and  the  generous  sympathy  lodged  in  his 
being  responded  to  the  wakening  appeal  in  her 
eyes. 

For  the  girl's  sake,  as  well  as  his  own,  he  took  in 
his  hand  the  inverted  card  with  which  she  was,  in  fact, 
labeled.  He  turned  it  over — and  burned  a  sudden 
scarlet. 

On  it  was  written,  in  a  large,  plain  chirography : 

"  Your  wife — 

MRS.  JULIAN  VAIL." 

Miss  Puryn,  instantly  reading  the  lines,  made  a 
sound  that  was  half  a  gasp. 


10  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

"  Oh,  the  shame !  "  she  started,  when  Vail  ve- 
hemently interrupted. 

"  The  outrage ! — to  any  young  girl Iris,  help 

me !  She's  fainting !  " 

The  frightened,  half-numbed,  and  wholly  bewil- 
dered girl,  still  supported  in  the  case,  had  abruptly 
closed  her  eyes  and  drooped  a  little  forward,  in  some 
swift  reaction  from  her  rousing. 

Vail  attempted  to  draw  her  forth  and  take  her  to 
the  davenport,  in  the  corner  next  the  window.  He 
found  that  she  was  held  in  her  upright  position  by 
fastenings  just  beneath  her  arms.  They  were  wires, 
thickly  padded. 

Iris,  far  from  willing  to  lend  her  assistance  in  a 
business  she  instantly  conceived  to  be  exceedingly 
dubious,  not  only  made  no  move  to  assist  the  helpless 
girl,  but  instead  retreated  to  the  desk. 

"  How  can  you  hesitate  to  call  some  officer?  "  she 
asked  of  Vail,  severely.  "  If  you  are  really  inno- 
cent   Don't  you  realize  how  this  appears  ?  Don't 

you  understand  the  gravity " 

Vail  was  fiercely  cutting  at  the  padded  wires. 

"  I  realize  that  a  helpless  girl — doubtless  drugged 
and  shut  up  in  a  coffin — needs  aid  and  sympathy! 
If  you'll  hand  me  a  glass  of  water — do  some- 
thing   Ah!" 

With  the  last  of  the  stout  supports  abruptly  sev- 
ered, the  limp  form  sank  a  little  forward,  and  must 
have  gone  headlong  to  the  floor,  had  he  not  swiftly 
caught  her  in  his  arms. 

He  lifted  her  bodily,  a  nerveless  bundle  of  life 


THE  WAY  OF  A  FIANCEE  11 

and  returning  warmth,  and  carried  her  over  to  the 
couch. 

Miss  Puryn  watched,  her  suspicions,  anger,  and 
sense  of  condemnation  enlarging  momentarily. 

"  Surely,  Julian,"  she  said,  "  you  understand  the 
necessity  of  explaining  this  occurrence?  You  re- 
alize what  is  due  to  me  ?  " 

"  Explanation  ?  "  Vail  repeated,  striding  at  once 
to  the  water-stand,  with  its  big  inverted  bottle. 
"  You've  seen  it  all.  You  know  as  much  as  I.  The 
first  thing  to  do  is  to  aid,  restore " 

"  You  were  startled,"  Miss  Puryn  interrupted. 
"  Your  only  thought  is  for  her.  Is  it  true?  Is  this 
girl  your  wife  ?  " 

Vail  had  gone  swiftly  back  to  the  couch,  a  glass 
of  water  in  his  hand. 

"  Good  Heavens — no !  Don't  you  see  she's  a  help- 
less girl  that  I've  got  to  treat  with  common  human 
kindness  ?  " 

He  knelt  on  the  floor  by  the  prostrate  form,  and, 
sprinkling  and  bathing  the  pallid  face,  unfastened 
the  collar  at  her  throat. 

"  Yes,"  said  Miss  Puryn,  "—and  then?  " 

"  Then?  "  repeated  Julian.  "  I'll  find  out,  if  pos- 
sible, who  she  is — where  she  came  from — how  it  hap- 
pened." 

"  But  you  will  also  send  her  away,  at  once?  " 

"  I'll  see  that  she  returns  to  her  home,  certainly. 
.  .  .  That's  better ! "  The  girl  on  the  couch  was 
reviving.  "  Take  it  easy.  Don't  be  alarmed.  Just 
wait,  and  recover  your  strength." 


12  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

His  utterance,  unconsciously,  had  taken  on  a  cer- 
tain tenderness  as  reassuring  as  the  touch  of  his 
hand.  Iris  was  convinced  that  both  his  handling  and 
his  words  were  caresses. 

The  girl  from  the  case  had  opened  her  eyes  and 
was  looking  at  Julian  dumbly. 

He  felt  he  had  never  in  his  life  encountered  such 
eyes,  with  such  an  appeal  for  friendship. 

He  was  jarred  by  the  voice  of  his  fiancee,  who 
stood  at  her  distance,  sharply  observing  the  scene. 

"  Have  you  quite  overlooked  the  fact  of  my  exist- 
ence? Will  you  kindly  end  this  predicament  as  soon 
as  possible?  " 

He  looked  across  at  her  briefly. 

"  What  would  you  wish  me  to  do — in  addition  to 
what  I  am  doing  ?  " 

"  Send  for  someone  with  authority — ring  for  an 
ambulance,  perhaps." 

"  Before  we've  asked  a  question  ? — found  out  any- 
thing about  this  extraordinary  business?  Isn't  it 
better " 

The  girl  on  the  davenport  stirred  unexpectedly, 
and  raised  herself  partially  up. 

"What  is  it?  What  is  it?"  she  asked,  a  trifle 
wildly.  "  Oh ! — something  dreadful  must  have  hap- 
pened ! " 

"  You're  all  right  at  present,"  said  Vail,  reas- 
suringly. "  If  you'll  kindly  tell  me  who  you  are 
and  where  you  live,  I  may  be  of  some  little 
service." 

She  stared  at  him  peculiarly,  her  mind  still  greatly 


THE  WAY  OF  A  FIANCEE  13 

confused.  She  sat  against  the  support  of  the  couch, 
passing  her  hand  across  her  cheek. 

"  I — don't  know — don't  remember,"  she  faltered. 
Then  finding  the  tag,  still  dangling  at  her  waist, 
she  gazed  at  it,  reading  its  words.  "  Somebody's 
wife?"  she  cried,  in  shocked  surprise.  "Mrs. 

Julian Your   name — isn't    Mr.   Vail  ?  "    •  Her 

voice  betrayed  a  new  and  poignant  alarm. 

"  My  name  is  Vail,"  said  Julian,  "  but  I  never 
even  saw  you  before.  How  did  you  come  to  be  sent 
to  me  in  a  box?  " 

-  She  followed  his  gesture  languidly,  gazed  blankly 
on  the  empty  case,  and  then  quite  as  blankly  at  Iris, 
who  was  coldly  scowling  in  return. 

No  memories  stirred  in  the  girl's  groping  brain, 
and  her  glance  roved  back  to  Vail. 

"  I  am  sure  I  have  seen  you  before,"  she  said. 

Miss  Puryn  uttered  a  note  like  an  accusation. 

"  All  right,"  said  Vail,  indulgently.  "  Now  try 
to  remember  your  name." 

He  could  see  the  struggle  of  her  intellect  to  re- 
sume its  interrupted  order.  It  appeared  to  thaw,  as 
it  were,  a  cell  at  a  time. 

"  Why,"  she  said,  grasping  backwards,  as  if  at 

the  past,  "  my  name It  used  to  be  Barbara 

My  name  is  Barbara  Lee."  She  sat  up  more  stiffly, 
she  filled  her  lungs,  she  battled  like  a  suffocating  be- 
ing— and  the  life  of  her  brain  came  rushing  back,  to 
awaken  new  frights  in  her  being. 

"  Oh,  what  has  happened  ?  "  she  almost  wailed. 
"  Where  am  I  now  ?  " 


14  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

"  In  my  office,  New  York  City,"  Vail  replied. 
"  You  came  in  that  box  in  the  corner.  You  must 
have  been  drugged,  of  course.  If  you'll  try  to  help 
me  get  at  the  facts,  perhaps  I  can  return  you  to 
your  friends." 

"  That  box  ?  "  she  repeated,  still  almost  childishly 
dazed.  "  But  I  haven't  any  friends — any  home.  I 
came  to  New  York  to  work.  .  .  .  We  hadn't  a  thing 
when  father  died — but  I'm  sure  I  have  the  strength 
to  work.". 

"  All  right,"  said  Julian,  rising  at  last,  still  look- 
ing intently  upon  her.  "  Where  did  you  live  when 
your  father  died?  " 

The  girl  still  regarded  him  wildly. 

"  In  Hartford.     If  only " 

"  You  have  no  mother?  " 

"  She  died  when  I  was  a  child,  but  please ; 

"  And  your  father  made  no  friends  in  Hart- 
ford? " 

She  shook  her  head. 

"  He  never  made  friends,  but  something — some- 
one  " 

Vail  was  calm,  but  insistent.  "  Yes.  And 
why " 

He  was  interrupted  by  his  fiancee,  who  was  strum- 
ming with  her  fingers  on  the  table. 

"  If  you  don't  mind,  Julian,  we  are  already  late 
at  Mrs.  Wade's.  If  Miss  Lee  is  sufficiently  recov- 
ered, I  would  suggest  we  keep  our  appointment." 

The  girl  on  the  couch  weakly  rose,  her  eyes  ablaze 
with  unrelieved  confusion. 


THE  WAY  OF  A  FIANCEE  15 

"  I  didn't  mean  to  come — to  give  anyone  the  slight- 
est trouble,"  she  said,  helplessly.  "  I  don't  know 
how  anything  happened.  I'll  go — of  course — some- 
where." 

She  started  to  move,  but  limped  with  painful  ef- 
fort and  clung  for  support  to  the  couch. 

"Go  somewhere?"  echoed  Julian.  "You've  no 
place  to  go.  When  you  came  to  the  city,  where  did  you 
lodge?  Why  did  you  come  for  work  to  New  York?  " 

"  I  came  on  a  promise  of  employment,"  she  said, 
striving  to  conjure  back  her  strength.  "  A  Mrs. 
Cree  I  met  in  Hartford  promised  me  work.  ..  .  .  She 
met  me  at  the  station  when  I  came.  .  „  .  I  went  to 
her  house.  .  .  ..  We  ate  some  lunch — and  then — I 
don't  remember — I  don't  remember — not  a  thing." 
She  appeared  to  be  trying  to  sweep  her  mind  of 
mists  and  obscuring  webs. 

"But  Mrs.  Cree's  house,"  said  Vail.  "You  re- 
member where  it  was  ?  " 

"  No.  .  ..  .  We  went  there  in  a  cab,  but — please 
don't  let  me  cause  you  any  further  bother.  If  you'll 
only  tell  me  where  I  can  go,  my  foot  may  be  better 
in  a  moment." 

Iris  rose  to  sudden  heights  of  generosity,  address- 
ing Vail. 

"  Couldn't  you  take  her  in  my  car  to  some  of  the 
Charity  or  Christian  institutions  ?  " 

Julian  discovered  the  look  of  distress  on  the  face 
of  the  helpless  girl. 

"  This  affair  is  not  to  be  dismissed  so  lightly,"  he 
answered.  "  There  is  something  behind  this  abomi- 


16  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

nable  business !  Someone  has  perpetrated  an  outrage 
on  this  friendless  young  lady,  and  I  also  am  in- 
volved. I  mean  to  befriend  Miss  Lee  to  the  best  of 
my  ability — and  sift  this  affair  to  the  bottom." 

Iris  regarded  him  coldly. 

*'  You  appear  to  have  made  your  decision  without 
consulting  me." 

"  My  dear  Iris,  you  wouldn't  expect  me  to  cast 
Miss  Lee  on  the  mercies  of  the  street,  when  she  has 
come  to  my  office  like  this  ?  " 

Miss  Puryn's  eyebrows  slightly  lifted. 

"  I  very  much  doubt  the  welcome  of  my  advice  in 
the  matter.  I  shall  not  remain  to  hamper  your  de- 
cisions." She  started  for  the  door. 

"  Oh,  let  me  go ! "  said  the  worried  Miss  Lee,  who 
was  still  quite  weak  and  bewildered.  "  I'd  rather  not 
be  the  cause  of  anyone's  trouble." 

She  stepped  but  once  on  her  injured  foot,  how- 
ever, when  she  came  with  a  moan  to  the  floor. 

"  Here !  "  said  Julian,  instantly  lifting  her  up  and 
placing  her  again  on  the  couch.  "  You're  lame. 
You're  hurt.  You  can't  go  off  like  this.  Iris,  if 
only  you'll  take  off  her  shoe " 

"  Julian ! " 

"  Very  well,  will  you  stay  while  I  remove  it  ?  "  He 
knelt  on  the  floor  in  the  most  straightforward  man- 
ner of  business,  raised  a  tiny  little  foot  that  was 
swollen  in  its  new-looking  shoe,  and  swiftly  unfas- 
tened its  buttons. 

Without  another  word,  Miss  Puryn  turned,  went 
swiftly  out,  and  slammed  the  office  door. 


CHAPTER  III 

THE    SHOCK    OF    COMPLICATIONS 

VAIL  was  thoroughly  annoyed  by  his  fiancee's 
behavior.  He  started  quickly  towards  the  door 
to  plead  with  Miss  Puryn  to  return.  But  he  realized 
instantly  the  uselessness  of  such  a  mission,  and,  turn- 
ing to  place  the  shoe  on  his  desk,  addressed  the 
startled  girl. 

"  I  shall  ask  my  clerk  to  help  us,  Miss  Lee,  and, 
when  he  gets  an  easier  pair  of  boots,  I  can  probably 
find  you  some  sort  of  temporary  quarters." 

"  You  are  very  kind,"  said  the  helpless  girl.  "  I 
don't  know  what  to  do — or  what  to  think — or  what 
may  happen  next!" 

Vail's  wonderful  good-humor  returned.  His  eyes 
were  exceedingly  bright  again.  v" 

"  Don't  worry — please.  Worse  things  happened 
at  Waterloo."  He  went  to  the  door  that  led  to  the 
rooms  beyond,  drew  it  open,  and  called  to  one  of  his 
stenographers,  Broughton  by  name,  to  come  to  his 
assistance. 

Broughton,  a  half-bald,  active  young  man,  re- 
sponded at  once  to  the  summons,  gazing  calmly 
enough  at  the  girl  on  the  couch,  despite  a  certain 
surprise  her  presence  naturally  excited.  The  door 
was  closed  behind  him. 

17 


18  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

He  related,  in  reply  to  questions  by  his  chief,  that 
he  himself  had  permitted  two  men  to  deliver  the  case, 
through  the  private  door,  adding  that  no  one  else  of 
the  office  force  was  aware  of  its  presence  in  the  build- 
ing. Then,  having  been  cautioned  to  keep  the  mat- 
ter entirely  to  himself,  he  was  sent  for  easier  shoes 
and  a  pair  of  slippers. 

Vail  sat  down,  his  arm  on  the  desk  at  the  side  of 
a  large  brass  cartridge  shell,  once  used  in  a  six- 
pounder  Hotchkiss  rifle,  but  now  employed  as  a  vase 
for  holding  flowers.  He  looked  at  the  girl  steadily, 
while  her  two  brown  eyes  were  fixed  in  questioning  on 
his  face. 

"  Well,  Miss  Lee,"  he  said,  cheerily,  "  this  is  one 
of  the  most  extraordinary  affairs  I  have  ever  experi- 
enced. I  certainly  admit  I'm  puzzled.  When  did 
you  take  the  train  from  Hartford?  " 

Doubt,  anxiety,  and  weakness  had  assailed  the  girl 
anew.  But  Vail  inspired  her  confidence. 

"  It  was  Saturday  morning." 

"  Do  you  know  what  day  it  is  now?  " 

"  Why — Saturday  afternoon." 

"  No.     It's  Monday,  and " 

"  Monday  ? "  she  echoed,  in  new  surprise. 
"  But — how  can  it  be  Monday  ?  " 

"  It's  the  day  after  Sunday,"  he  assured  her,  in 
his  friendly,  quizzical  way.  "  You  probably  haven't 
eaten  since  you  took  that  poisoned  lunch.  What  did 
you  do  about  your  baggage?  What  did  you  have?  " 

She  was  wide-eyed  with  astonishment,  but  an- 
swered to  the  point. 


THE  SHOCK  OF  COMPLICATIONS        19 

"  Why — my  satchel,  and  a  trunk.  They  are  all  I 
have.  I  carried  the  bag,  and  the  trunk  was  checked. 
Mrs.  Cree  volunteered  to  get  it." 

"  Um !  "  said  Vail.  "  I  hope  it  doesn't  contain 
anything  you  very  greatly  prize." 

Miss  Lee  was  instantly  startled. 

"  Oh,  but  it  does !  I  wouldn't  have  anything 

Oh !  What  horrible  things " 

"  There,  there,"  interrupted  Julian,  quietly. 
"  Those  are  the  minor  details  in  some  extraordinary 
business.  I  suppose  you  haven't  much  money?  " 

"  The  little  I  had  was  in  the  bag.  How  could 

anyone I  don't  see  what  it  means ! "  In  her 

agitation  she  tried  to  rise,  but  once  more  sank  with 
the  pain  in  her  foot. 

"  Never  mind,"  said  Vail.  "  You're  hungry  now, 
and  weak.  But  I  want  you  to  trust  me  as  a  friend — 
if  you  feel  you  can  ever  put  your  trust  in  any- 
one again.  I'll  call  up  a  woman  I  know,  near 
by,  a  Mrs.  Loomis,  and  secure  you  quarters  at 
once." 

He  reached  for  the  telephone,  but  struck  the  tall 
brass  cartridge  shell,  which  toppled  giddily,  spilling 
a  cup  or  more  of  water  on  the  offending  shoe  that 
had  injured  the  girl's  imprisoned  foot.  He  caught  it 
up  and  steadied  it  back  on  its  base. 

"  No  harm  done — none  at  all,"  he  said,  and,  pres- 
ently greeting  Mrs.  Loomis  over  the  wire,  was  grati- 
fied to  know  that  her  most  desirable  apartment  was 
vacant  and  that  something  hot  and  sustaining,  by 
way  of  a  lunch,  would  be  forthwith  prepared  for  her 


20  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

guest,  who,  Julian  informed  her,  would  presently 
arrive. 

He  hung  up  the  instrument,  arising  to  go  to  the 
long  white  case  in  the  corner,  for  a  closer  inspection 
of  its  features. 

It  was,  as  he  had  expected,  a  strong,  wooden  con- 
struction, merely  veneered  with  cardboard  to  give  it 
a  light  appearance.  It  was  reinforced  at  the  cor- 
ners with  steel.  Down  in  the  wad  of  cotton  near 
the  base  was  something  wrapped  in  paper. 

It  proved  to  be  a  hat,  with  a  half-worn  pair  of 
gloves  rolled  up  in  a  lump  and  tucked  inside  the 
crown.  He  had  only  ascertained  these  facts  when 
Broughton  returned  from  the  nearest  shop  with  his 
bundle  of  shoes  and  slippers. 

Miss  Lee  had  so  far  recovered  her  normal  strength 
as  to  require  no  further  assistance  in  removing  her 
second  shoe. 

Fifteen  minutes  later,  with  Broughton  as  well  as 
Vail  to  escort  her,  she  was  on  her  way  in  a  taxicab 
to  the  home  of  Mrs.  Loomis.  No  one  in  the  party 
observed  a  man  who,  evidently  ready  with  a  second 
hired  conveyance,  quietly  "  shadowed "  the  trio  all 
the  way,  made  a  note  of  the  house,  and  disappeared 
from  the  street. 

Broughton  returned  to  the  office.  Mrs.  Loomis 
had  met  the  party  at  the  door.  That  Miss  Lee  was 
a  homeless  and  friendless  young  woman,  decoyed  to 
the  town  and  cast  in  his  way  by  vicissitudes  of  for- 
tune, was  promptly,  if  somewhat  vaguely,  explained 
by  the  puzzled  Vail. 


"  This  box  comprises  all  Miss  Lee's  baggage,  at 
present,"  he  added,  tossing  the  parcel  of  new  and 
untried  boots  on  a  chair,  "  but  we'll  get  her 
trunk  and  bag  as  soon  as  possible.  Meantime,  Mrs. 
Loomis " 

"  Oh ! "  interrupted  Miss  Lee,  looking  quickly 
about  her,  in  worry.  "  I  forgot  my  other 
shoes !  They  are  at  your  office !  They  will  not 
be  lost,  Mr.  Vail?  You'll  see  they  are  kept  quite 
safe?  " 

"  I  can  send  them,"  said  Vail,  "  if  you  wish." 

She  looked  at  him  peculiarly. 

"  I  wouldn't  lose  them  for  the  world.  I  hope — I 
wonder But  I've  been  so  much  trouble  al- 
ready ! " 

"  I'll  keep  them  safely,  till  I  come  again,"  he  as- 
sured her  readily.  "  I  shall  probably  call  this  even- 
ing. I  hope  you'll  have  a  good  substantial  meal 
and  take  a  nap,  for  your  strength  is  rather  im- 
portant." 

Mrs.  Loomis,  a  good  old  motherly  person,  would 
have  laid  down  her  life  for  Vail. 

"I'll  be  ready  in  just  two  jiffies!"  she  said,  and 
hastened  down  the  stairs. 

Vail  held  out  his  hand.  "  Good-by,  till  I  see  you 
again." 

Barbara's  tremulous  little  hand  was  honestly  re- 
sponsive as  he  held  it  momentarily  and  gazed  in  her 
warm,  brown  eyes.  A  thrill  he  took  no  time  to  un- 
derstand stirred  in  the  depths  of  his  nature. 

"  Good-by,"  she  answered.     "  I  hope  you  won't 


22  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

think I  don't  know  what  to  say — what  it  could 

possibly  mean — or  what  to  look  for  now." 

"  You  may  look  for  help  to  clear  it  up,"  he  told 
her,  gayly.  "  Don't  try  to  puzzle  it  out  alone.  Just 
rest,  this  afternoon." 

Still  marveling,  and  still  subconsciously  irritated 
by  all  that  Iris  had  said  and  done,  yet  aware  that 
the  matter  might  be  grave  beyond  all  present  calcu- 
lation, he  finally  reached  his  office,  and  stood  for  a 
moment  baffled  as  he  gazed  at  the  empty  box  that 
had  held  his  birthday  "  gift." 

Presently  advancing  to  the  desk,  he  took  up  the 
little,  offending  shoe  that  his  flower  vase  had  soaked. 
A  startling  thing  thereupon  occurred. 

The  heel,  merely  glued  to  the  body  of  the  shoe, 
and  wet  by  the  water  from  his  vase,  came  loosely  away 
in  his  hand.  There,  in  a  hollow,  skillfully  cut  in 
the  apparently  solid  leather,  was  something  wrapped 
in  cotton  wadding. 

He  shook  it  out.  The  cotton  fell  away.  A  great 
fiery  ruby — a  pigeon's  blood  gem  of  incomparable 
luster — lay  gleaming  in  his  hand. 

Then  a  sharp  knock  sounded  on  the  door. 


CHAPTER  IV 

VISITORS    AND    UNEASINESS 

VAIL  had  never  in  his  life  experienced  a  greater 
sensation  of  astonishment  than  that  which 
surged  upon  him  as  he  gazed  at  the  stone  in  his 
hand. 

He  scarcely  heard  the  knocking  at  the  door.  A 
cataract  of  sudden  suspicions  and  conflicting  emo- 
tions plunged  in  tumult  through  his  brain. 

There  was  neither  the  time  nor  opportunity  for 
analysis  of  the  situation  or  his  own  disordered 
thoughts.  He  only  knew  that  someone  wished  to 
enter,  that  the  jewel  in  his  hand  might  prove  ex- 
ceedingly embarrassing,  and  that,  come  what  might, 
he  must  for  the  moment  obey  some  unreasoning  im- 
pulse to  protect  the  girl  who  had  come  as  "  A  gift 
of  the  Gods." 

Hurriedly  looking  about  for  a  place  in  which  to 
conceal  the  gem,  he  dropped  it  down  inside  the 
tall  brass  cartridge  shell  that  had  spilled  the  water 
on  the  shoe. 

The  knock  on  the  door  was  repeated.  About  to 
call  to  the  visitor  to  enter,  Vail's  thought  returned 
to  Miss  Lee's  footgear.  He  instantly  caught  them 
up.  The  safe  was  still  unlocked.  He  strode  to  it 

23 


24.  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

hastily,  thrust  them  into  an  empty  pigeon  hole,  and, 
withdrawing  some  papers  from  another  receptacle, 
crowded  them  in  to  hide  the  shoes. 

"  Come  in ! "  he  called,  as  he  closed  the  ponderous 
iron  box  and  twirled  the  combination.  "  Come  in !  " 

It  was  Broughton  who  entered,  an  odd  expression 
on  his  face  as  he  offered  a  card  to  his  chief. 

Vail  was  no  less  astonished  than  his  secretary. 

"Gardner?"  he  said.  "John  Gardner?  Here? 
What  for?  " 

Broughton  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  All  right,"  said  Vail.     "  Show  him  in." 

Broughton  disappeared,  and  presently  a  keen- 
visaged,  typical  man  of  the  Wall-street  genus  was 
confronting  his  one  acknowledged  antagonist  in  the 
railroad  fight  that  had  long  involved  a  Western  sec- 
tion, while  his  quick  glance  inventoried  all  the  room. 

"How  are  you,  Vail?"  he  queried,  not  uncor- 
dially.  "  Still  celebrating  Christmas  ?  " 

Vail,  who  was  frowning,  resumed  his  more  cheer- 
ful expression.  Nevertheless,  he  was  puzzled  to  know 
what  possible  reason  this  man  of  all  others  in  great 
New  York  could  have  for  such  an  untimely  invasion. 
An  invasion  he  mentally  dubbed  it  since  it  was  quite 
inconceivable  that  Gardner  could  have  come  on  any 
save  a  sinister  errand. 

"  Birthday,"  he  answered,  apparently  with  perfect 
unconcern.  "  Won't  you  have  a  seat?  " 

Gardner  moved  forward  and  occupied  a  chair  that 
faced  the  mysterious  case  in  the  corner.  He  smiled 
slightly. 


VISITORS  AND  UNEASINESS  25 

"  Good,  easy  chair.  Nice  furnishings.  .  .  .  Just 
dropped  in,  Vail,  as  I  was  passing,  to  see  if  you 
care  to  sell  your  holdings  in  B.  &  K.  C." 

Vail  repressed  an  impulse  to  tell  the  man  he  lied. 
He  was  still  exceedingly  busy  attempting  to  fathom 
the  motive  that  had  brought  about  this  visitation. 

"  Your  memory  is  good  and  easy,  too,"  said  he. 
"  You  had  my  answer  a  month  ago."  He  noted  the 
concentrated  attention  his  rival  focused  on  the  empty 
case  against  the  wall  as  he  added,  "  I  have  had  no 
occasion  to  alter  my  first  decision." 

There  was  just  a  hint  of  challenge  in  the  look  the 
older  railroad  man  directed  across  the  desk. 

"  I  wouldn't  ask  you  to  sell  it  if  I  didn't  want 
that  road." 

"  Exactly.  And  I  shouldn't  refuse  to  part  with 
the  property  if  I  found  it  undesirable." 

Gardner  narrowed  his  gaze.  "  I  generally  get 
what  I  want." 

Vail  smiled.     "  I  usually  keep  what  I  have." 

Gardner  rose.  "  Nice  quarters,  but  a  little  far 
from  the  Street." 

Vail,  abruptly  convinced  that  this  unrelenting 
rival's  visit  was  in  some  way  concerned  with  the  sin- 
gular appearance  of  Miss  Barbara  Lee  on  the 
scene,  was  about  to  reply  as  before  when  once  again 
a  knock  was  sounded  on  the  door. 

Without  awaiting  either  ceremony  or  the  slightest 
invitation,  two  dapper  young  scions  of  Swelldom  im- 
mediately entered,  eager  to  share  in  anything  par- 
taking of  a  novel  sensation.  One  was  Dick  Puryn, 


26  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

only  brother  of  Julian's  fiancee.  His  companion  was 
young  "  Beau  "  Cranch,  a  being  of  rare  irresponsi- 
bility and  taste  in  style  and  dress. 

It  was  the  latter  who  revealed  the  purpose  of  this 
late  afternoon  attention. 

"By  Jove,  Gardner!  you  here  already?"  he  said, 
the  instant  he  was  well  within  the  threshold.  "  I 
say,  are  you  and  Julian  doing  the  lion  and  the  lamb 
tableau,  or  have  you  just  heard  about  it,  too?  Must 
have  got  it  by  wireless!  My  word,  Vail,  you  are 
the  lucky  devil,  you  know,  but  what  have  you  done 
with  the  girl?" 

Young  Puryn  was  almost  equally  obstreperous. 

"  Greatest  stunt  I  ever  heard  of,  'pon  my  honor," 
he  declared,  going  at  once  to  the  case  against  the 
wall,  " — live  girl,  coming  along  like  a  box  of  choco- 
lates! What  do  you  know  about  that?  Come  on 
now,  old  fellow,  give  us  a  look  at  the  calico!"  He 
turned  about  the  cover  of  the  great  white  case  and 
exclaimed  in  renewed  enthusiasm :  "  What  a  stunt ! 

*  A  Gift  of  the  Gods ! '     I  say,  we've  got  to  see  the 
girl,    you    know — got    to    pass    judgment    on    the 

*  gift ' !    No  wonder  Sis  was  excited.     It's  the  great- 
est  " 

Vail  at  last  interrupted. 

"  I  hope  you  won't  mind  my  hinting  that  Mr. 
Gardner  and  myself  were  engaged  in  a  business  inter- 
view ?  " 

"  I've  nothing  more  to  say,"  declared  Gardner, 
moving  towards  the  door,  " — unless  you've  changed 
your  mind." 


VISITORS  AND  UNEASINESS  27 

Vail  met  the  cold  glance  with  his  baffling  smile  and 
shook  his  head. 

"  Good-afternoon." 

Gardner  nodded. 

"  Let  me  wish  you  many  happy  returns  of  the 
day."  A  faint  suspicion  of  sarcasm  lurked  in  his 
utterance,  and  with  one  more  nod  he  departed. 

"  Dick,"  said  Vail,  to  young  Puryn,  "  where  is 
Iris?" 

"  My  dear  old  chap,  I  don't  know,"  said  the  dap- 
per young  Richard,  lightly.  "  I  should  say  in  some 
'phone  booth,  likely,  busy  with  the  wire.  It's  far 
more  to  the  point,  you  know,  to  tell  us  what  you've 
done  with  the  girl." 

Vail's  interest  in  Iris  continued. 

"  She  'phoned  you  of  this  ?  She  asked  you  to 
come  here — you  and  Cranch?  " 

"  What  else  could  she  do  ?  She's  entitled  to  a  bit 
of  curiosity,  old  chap,  being  a  woman,  you  know. 
And,  after  all,  I'm  her  brother." 

Cranch  was  inspecting  the  case. 

"  Oh,  rot  all  that ! "  he  exclaimed,  impatiently. 
"  You  might  show  us  the  package — the  girl — or  how 
can  we  help  you  in  the  least  ?  " 

Vail  continued  to  focus  on  Puryn. 

"  Your  impression  is  that  Iris  is  telephoning  this 
story  all  about  the  town  ?  " 

Richard  grinned. 

"  Did  Gardner  come  on  business,  or  on  this  ?  "  and 
he  motioned  to  the  box.  "  You  know  Gardner  and 
Sis — if  it  hadn't  been  for  you " 


28  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

"  Never  mind  that,  Dick,  just  at  present,"  Vail 
interrupted,  quietly.  "  Just  what  did  Iris  request  of 
you  and  Cranch?  " 

"  What  would  you  expect  ?  She  wishes  to  know 
what  you've  done  with  the  girl.  She  says  she  must 
have  an  explanation,  and  all  that  sort  of  thing — 
wants  to  know  what  it  means.  I  call  it  a  deucedly 
clever  adventure.  You  can  count  on  us,  you  know, 
old  chap,  but  of  course  we  must  have  a  look  at  the 
lady  in  the  case."  And  he  laughed  in  assurance 
of  his  wit. 

"Thank  you,"  said  Vail.  "I'll  'phone  you  the 
moment  I  need  your  valued  aid." 

Both  Cranch  and  Puryn  stared  at  Vail  in  amaze- 
ment. It  was  Dick  who  spoke. 

"  You  refuse  to  let  us  see  the  girl — to  tell  us 
where  she  is  ?  " 

Vail  was  sorting  papers  on  his  desk. 

"  It  doesn't  seem  entirely  necessary,  just  at 
present." 

"After  this  extraordinary  occurrence?"  de- 
manded Puryn.  "  I  say !  Don't  you  realize  the 
gravity  of  the  situation?  What  shall  I  say  to 
Sis?" 

"  That  I  shall  hope  to  call  this  evening."  Vail 
took  up  a  bundle  of  letters  and  commenced  their  de- 
liberate perusal. 

Dick  attempted  a  laugh. 

"  You're  all  right,  old  chap — accustomed  to  hav- 
ing a  girl  arrive  in  a  box  every  day.  .  .  .  Well,  so- 
long.  Don't  forget  we  offered  our  assistance." 


VISITORS  AND  UNEASINESS  29 

"  Thanks,"  said  Vail.     "  So-long." 

Despite  his  apparent  calm,  he  was  up  and  pacing 
the  office  the  moment  his  visitors  were  gone.  A  re- 
alizing sense  that  the  matter  might  prove  to  be  one 
of  exceeding  gravity  was  swiftly  crystallizing  in  his 
mind.  The  aspect  of  the  whole  affair  had  under- 
gone a  transformation  within  the  last  fifteen  minutes. 
The  ruby's  discovery,  Gardner's  unprecedented  ap- 
pearance, and  Miss  Puryn's  folly  in  acquainting  all 
their  friends  with  the  story  had  conjured  up  such 
possibilities  of  complications  as  the  man  could  not 
have  dreamed  would  attach  to  the  incident  he  had 
felt  might  be  but  a  foolhardy  joke  at  the  worst. 

What  could  it  possibly  mean?  How  and  by  whom 
had  the  thing  been  planned,  and  what  was  its  ulti- 
mate purpose?  Was  his  own  deliberate  ruin  the 
objective  sought,  and,  if  so,  by  whom,  and  towards 
what  end? 

Gardner,  he  knew,  would  be  glad  to  avail  himself 
of  anything  likely  to  cripple  or  disgrace  a  foe  who 
had  dealt  him  defeat  both  in  love  and  war.  The 
man  had  desired  a  matrimonial  alliance  with  Iris 
Puryn  even  more  than  he  coveted  that  all-important 
railroad  link,  the  well-known  B.  &  K.  C.  And  yet, 
had  he  planned  this  extraordinary  coup  de  main, 
how  could  he  possibly  have  added  that  complicating 
ruby  ? 

It  was  the  great  red  gem  that  flung  disturbing 
corruscations  through  Vail's  revolving  thoughts. 
He  only  knew  that  some  insistent  wish  to  have  the 
girl  proved  innocent  followed  each  flash  of  the 


30  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

jewel's  baleful  gleaming  in  his  mind  with  arguments 
supporting  his  desire. 

If  only  she  had  not  exhibited  so  much  concern 
respecting  the  safety  of  her  shoes,  the  man  could 
have  been  infinitely  more  easy  in  his  mind.  If  the 
whole  affair  had  been  carefully  planned  and  Miss 

Lee  had  lent  her  services The  thought  was 

absurd!  She  could  never  have  planned  that  the  heel 
of  her  shoe  should  break  away  in  his  hand!  At 
most  she  could  merely  have  intended  to  leave  the 
boot  in  his  possession — make  him  custodian  of  the 
ruby,  as  part  of  some  intricate  crime! 

"  Nonsense ! "  he  cried  to  himself,  impatiently. 
She  had  given  every  evidence  of  bodily  distress,  of 
victimized  innocence,  of  helpless  and  frightened  mal- 
treatment at  the  hands  of  unscrupulous  knaves !  The 
stone  might  be  an  imitation.  She  might  not  have 
known  of  its  presence  in  her  shoe!  Moreover,,  to 
land  the  jewel  in  his  office  could  never  have  required 
a  scheme  so  difficult  of  execution  as  this  sending  of  a 
living  girl,  delivered  in  a  box. 

He  could  not  and  did  not,  however,  lose  sight  of 
the  fact  that  the  affair  demanded  immediate  and  care- 
ful attention.  Despite  his  irresponsibility,  a  certain 
piquancy  in  the  singular  encounter  with  his  "  Gift 
of  the  Gods,"  he  was  thoroughly  aware  that  men  are 
constantly  victimized  by  their  scheming,  unscrupu- 
lous kind.  He  conceded  that  women,  no  less  than 
men,  are  adept  in  deceptions,  blackmail,  and  ad- 
venture. 

He  halted  his  pacing,  to  stare  in  resentment  at 


VISITORS  AND  UNEASINESS  31 

the  cartridge-shell  vase  where  the  ruby  had  been 
dropped.  How  gladly  he  might  have  welcomed  the 
astounding  arrival  of  a  birthday  remembrance  so 
wholly  lovely,  were  it  not  for  that  accusing  stone ! 

His  thought  returned  to  the  shoes  in  the  safe, 
through  a  sudden  reflection  that  the  second  heel 
might  likewise  contain  unimagined  treasures.  Not 
without  a  certain  sort  of  excitement,  he  opened  the 
ponderous  box  and  extracted  the  leathern  articles 
of  suspicion. 

A  hasty  examination  of  the  heel  of  the  second 
shoe  revealed  nothing  indicative  of  glue  or  a  hollowed 
recess.  It  successfully  resisted  his  effort  to  wrench 
it  loose.  He  decided  it  was  innocent  of  hidden 
surprises. 

The  glue  on  the  other  less  innocent  boot  had  dried, 
or  so  nearly  hardened  as  to  render  reattachment  of 
the  heel  through  its  means  impracticable.  Convinced 
that  Miss  Lee  would  request  the  return  of  her  foot- 
gear soon,  Vail  conceded  the  wisdom  of  replacing  the 
heel  at  once. 

He  went  to  his  desk,  pulled  open  the  lowermost 
drawer,  and,  placing  a  box  of  screws  and  nails  at 
hand,  with  a  hammer,  screwdriver,  forceps,  and 
other  utensils,  selected  an  awl  and  a  long  slender 
screw  with  which  to  repair  the  damage. 

Fortunately  the  shoes  were  new.  The  thin  false 
sole,  always  pasted  inside  from  heel  to  toe,  was 
readily  torn  from  place  for  a  distance  sufficiently 
long  to  meet  his  requirements.  In  the  briefest  time 
he  had  drilled  accurately  down  in  the  hollowed  heel 


32  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

and  driven  the  long  screw  home.  The  job  was  fin- 
ished and  invisible  when  he  once  more  pasted  in  its 
place  the  flimsy  inner  sole. 

He  had  housed  his  tools  and  risen  to  replace  the 
shoes  in  the  iron  box  as  before,  when  a  sudden  jan- 
gling of  the  telephone  lent  a  nervous  haste  to  his 
movements.  He  thrust  the  boots  in  their  former 
pigeon  hole — and  closed  but  forgot  to  lock  the  door 
of  the  safe  upon  them. 

"  Hullo  !  "  he  called,  across  the  wire.  "  Hullo ! — 
hullo! — who  is  it?  Oh,  Mrs.  Loomis?  .  .  .  Why, 

yes,  I  can  come,  but  what Miss  Lee  is  what? 

She's  ill? — She's Never  mind.  I'll  come  at 

once.  .  .  .  No,  no.  Don't  summon  a  doctor.  Wait 
till  I  can  see  her  for  myself.  I'll  be  there  in  fifteen 
minutes ! " 

Swayed  in  all  his  sympathies  once  more  by  what 
he  had  heard  through  the  instrument,  he  dropped  the 
telephone  to  snatch  up  his  hat,  when  a  thought  of 
the  ruby  stopped  him.  He  could  hardly  expect  to 
return  here  again  to-day.  Whether  to  take  the  pre- 
cious stone,  or  to  place  it  for  greater  security  in  the 
safe,  was  a  question  that  troubled  him  abruptly. 

As  he  hung  there,  undecided,  a  new  complication 
was  added  to  the  case.  The  telephone  rang  once 
more.  The  Chief  of  Police  was  the  man  at  the 
farther  end. 

Vail  felt  a  sense  of  sinking  at  his  vitals  as  he 
caught  the  name  across  the  wire. 

"Oh,  Faxon,  how  are  you?"  he  asked  at  once, 
with  all  the  calm  in  his  command.  "  I'm  feeling  fine 


VISITORS  AND  UNEASINESS  33 

—yes.  .  .  .  Thanks.  .  .  .  What's  that?  ...  Oh, 
no — no,  no!  It's  nothing  at  all,  I'm  sure,  but  a 
practical  joke.  .  .  .  Miss  Puryn  'phoned  you? — 
asked  you  what?  .  .  .  Why,  thank  you,  Faxon,  but 
I  don't  believe  it's  a  case  for  any  of  your  boys.  .  .  . 
No,  no!  I'm  sure  it's  nothing  serious.  .  .  .  Yes — 
thank  you — I'll  be  glad  to  avail  myself  of  your  serv- 
ices if  it  should  develop  anything Thank  you 

for  the  offer.   .    .    .   Yes,  I'll  let  you  know  if  any- 
thing comes  of  it,  of  course.  .    .    .  Good-by." 

He  hung  up  the  telephone,  aware  that,  in  a  way, 
he  had  made  himself  accomplice  to  any  questionable 
acts  in  which  the  strange  young  woman  might  chance 
to  be  involved.  He  was  keeping  both  the  ruby  and 
the  secret.  As  for  Iris  and  her  indiscriminate  ac- 
tivity in  the  matter,  his  impatience  knew  no  bounds. 

"  I'm  mad !  "  he  said,  in  protest  to  himself.  "  I'm 
absolutely  mad !  "  He  moved  to  take  up  the  'phone, 
to  inform  Mrs.  Loomis  he  could  not  come,  after  all. 
But  he  halted.  "  I  can't !  "  he  exclaimed.  "  I  can't 
abandon  a  helpless  girl! — at  least  not  while  she's 
sick!" 

Convinced  the  ruby  was  more  successfully  con- 
cealed than  as  if  he  had  placed  it  under  lock  and 
key,  he  hastened  through  the  outer  offices,  informed 
young  Broughton  he  should  not  return  for  the  day, 
and  was  presently  driving  in  a  taxicab  for  the  house 
that  harbored  his  "  Gift." 


CHAPTER  V 

STARTLING   DISCOVERIES 

A  NATURAL  reaction  from  over-excitement,  her 
fasting,   and  the  weird  adventure  that   could 
hardly  be  thought  to  be  concluded,  had  claimed  Miss 
Lee  for  its  own. 

She  had  roused  from  a  nap  in  a  fever,  and  mild 
delirium  had  seized  upon  her  faculties  to  overthrow 
their  adjustment.  She  was  lying  on  a  couch,  fully 
dressed  and  quietly  sobbing,  as  Vail  came  into  the 
room. 

Mrs.  Loomis  had  been  called  downstairs  again  and 
closed  the  door. 

Vail  went  at  once  to  the  couch  beside  the  window 
and  seated  himself  in  a  chair.  He  placed  his  hand 
on  Barbara's  shoulder. 

"  There,  there,"  he  said,  "  I  wouldn't  cry,  Miss 
Lee.  You're  all  right  now.  You're  with  friends." 

She  turned  and  appeared  to  listen,  looking  at  him 
with  long-lashed  eyes  as  searching  as  a  child's.  But 
the  light  in  their  depths  was  uncertain. 

She  hesitated,  seemed  about  to  place  her  hand  on 
Julian's  face,  and  shrank  again  in  the  baffled 
timidity  of  a  drifting  intelligence. 

Vail  called  her  back  in  his  cheery  manner. 
84 


STARTLING  DISCOVERIES  35 

"  Barbara  -    You  knew  me,  Barbara." 
"Oh,    father!"    she   cried,   in   sudden   joy.      "I 
thought  you  were  gone!    I  thought  you  were  gone! 
My  heart  was  nearly  breaking  !  " 

Not  only  did  she  suddenly  raise  herself  erect,  but 
she  slipped  to  her  knees  before  the  chair  that  Julian 
occupied  and,  throwing  her  arms  about  his  neck, 
pressed  her  lips  upon  his  cheek  in  an  ecstasy  of 


"  Father,  you  won't  go  off  again  ?  "  she  begged. 
"  You  won't  go  off  and  leave  me  all  alone  ?  " 

"  There,  there,  you  mustn't  be  excited,"  was  all 
Vail  could  answer  to  her  troubles.  "  Just  lie  down 
and  have  a  good  rest  —  and  don't  worry." 

She  seemed  to  listen,  in  a  way. 

"  There's  no  one  in  all  the  world  but  you  !  "  And 
she  clung  to  Vail  with  a  new  appeal  that  thrilled  him 
and  smote  him  together. 

Her  beauty,  her  helplessness,  even  the  illusion  that 
made  her  cling  with  her  arms  about  him,  somewhat 
drugged  his  senses  and  overwhelmed  his  ordinary 
reason. 

She  sank  again  upon  the  couch,  her  eyes  now  large 
and  luminous  with  some  change  in  her  mental  chaos. 

"  Oh,  New  York  !  —  anything  !  —  anything  but 
this  !  "  she  said,  incoherently.  "  It  doesn't  matter 
now!  I've  got  to  live!  Perhaps  he'd  never  find  me 
there!  ...  I'll  go!  I'll  go!  .  .  .  Father,  I 
can't  -  "  Her  voice  was  changed  to  a  moan. 
"  Oh,  something  dreadful  has  happened.  .  .  .  My 
shoes  —  you'll  keep  them  safe  ?  " 


36  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

She  stared  at  Vail  and  he  answered,  quietly: 

"  Don't  worry.     I've  locked  them  in  the  box." 

She  sat  up,  rigidly,  her  gaze  still  fixed  upon  his 
face.  Some  singular  change  was  taking  place  where 
order  came  back  to  her  mind.  Vail  could  almost 
read  the  phases  of  the  struggle  in  her  being.  She 
passed  her  hand  across  her  eyes  as  if  to  dissipate 
their  blur  and  steady  their  filmy  focus  on  some- 
thing solid  and  real. 

"  Then  it  was  a  dream — some  of  it Oh,  I 

don't  know  what  to  believe,"  she  told  him,  helplessly. 
"  But  you  promised  to  take  me  to  a  friend." 

His  relief  at  her  sudden  and  unexpected  recovery 
was  boundless. 

"  You  are  with  friends,"  he  answered.  "  If  you'll 
just  rely  on  that,  Miss  Lee,  perhaps  you  will  worry 
less.  You  must  try  to  be  quiet,  you  know." 

A  light  of  gratitude  warmed  to  a  glow  in  her 
eyes.  She  felt  she  could  cry  and  be  restored  by  the 
process.  She  smiled  faintly. 

"  But  I've  been  such  a  trouble,  already Did 

I  faint?" 

"  No,  you've  been  asleep.  Do  you  wish  me  to 
summon  a  doctor?" 

"  Why,  no,"  she  answered,  bravely.  "  I  think  I'm 
only  tired  and  nervous.  I'll  try  to  get  better — re- 
lieve you  as  soon  as  possible." 

"  Please  don't,"  he  said,  " — I  mean,  please  take 
things  perfectly  easy.  Above  all  things,  don't  worry 
about  the  bother  to  me." 

She  tried  to  smile  again,  but  doubts  were  in  her 


STARTLING  DISCOVERIES  37 

mind.  Vertigo  and  haziness  oppressed  her,  but  her 
courage  and  will  prevailed. 

"Is  it  still  Monday  afternoon?" 

"  It  is  nearly  Monday  evening." 

She  appeared  more  nervous  or  constrained. 

"  Did  I  ask  you  before  to  please  take  care  of  the 
shoes  I  left  at  your  office — if  it  isn't  too  much 
trouble?" 

"  You  did,"  said  Vail.  "  They  are  in  the  safe." 
It  jarred  him  back  to  a  hundred  vague  suspicions, 
all  more  unwelcome  than  before. 

"  Thank  you,"  she  murmured.  "  I  suppose  it 
seems  very  foolish,  but  I  particularly  wanted  to  keep 
them — for  the  sake  of  my  father." 

Vail  could  think  of  a  hundred  different  meanings 
that  such  a  statement  might  imply.  He  was  eager  to 
believe  that  her  motive  was  one  of  entire  innocence. 
And  yet — the  gleam  of  that  baleful  ruby  was  cast 
athwart  his  reflections  like  a  sinister  ray  of  crime. 

He  seized  upon  the  mention  of  her  father's  name 
with  ill-concealed  avidity. 

"  You  said  Mr.  Lee  had  few  or  no  friends  in  Hart- 
ford, I  believe  ?  " 

She  answered  readily: 

"  No  one  he  could  really  call  a  friend." 

"  Did  you  tell  me  he  was  some  sort  of  inventor?  " 

She  had  not,  but  her  memory  was  wholly  indis- 
tinct. 

"  Perhaps  I  did.  He  was At  least  he  made 

many  experiments,  with  inventions  in  view,  I  sup- 
pose." 


38  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

Vail  felt  his  heart-beat  quicken. 

"  Perhaps  he  was  the  gentleman  of  whom  I  have 
heard  who  was  striving  to  manufacture  artificial 
gems  ?  " 

A  tint  of  color  mounted  to  her  face. 

"  Why — I  don't  see  how  anybody  ever  heard !  " 
she  told  him,  candidly.  "  He  couldn't  have  told,  I'm 
sure." 

Vail  was  overwhelmed  with  gladness. 

"  But  you  see  that  someone  must  have  told,"  he 
answered,  a  new  conviction  that  the  stone  in  his 
office  was  not  a  genuine  ruby  now  welcomed  in  his 
mind.  "  And  I'm  sure  that  the  knowledge  could 
never  accomplish  harm." 

"  But  if  anyone  wishes  to  keep  his  actions  secret — 

I  mean  if  anyone  prefers — strives  all  his  life 

You  don't  remember  who  could  have  told  you  ?  "  She 
seemed  to  be  distressed. 

Vail,  in  possession  of  facts  that  he  felt  would 
clear  away  the  last  faint  fog  of  suspicion  trailing 
about  this  wholly  engaging  young  woman,  now 
smiled  reassuringly,  in  his  naturally  cheering 
manner. 

"  Why,  no,  I  couldn't  remember,"  he  said.  "  It 
isn't  my  line.  You  mustn't  excite  yourself  again 
by  thinking  of  anything  at  all.  To-morrow  we'll 
go  at  everything,  very  seriously,  and  work  out  our 
problem  together." 

"  Our  problem?  "     Her  eyes  were  girlishly  wide. 

"  Why,  yes — just  how  and  why  you  were  sent 
to  my  office — as  a  gift.  I  ought  to  know  whom  to 


STARTLING  DISCOVERIES  39 

thank."  He  laughed  and  she  felt  the  subtle  change 
that  had  come  upon  him. 

She  was  still  bewildered,  worried — and  facing  the 
vast  unknown — the  destiny  that  the  huge,  imper- 
sonal city  might  mete  in  its  giant  way,  neither  with 
mercy  nor  without  it,  to  one  so  helpless  as  herself. 

Mrs.  Loomis  once  more  entered  the  room. 

Vail  immediately  rose  and  took  up  his  hat. 

"  Your  patient  is  much  better  again,"  he  said. 
"  See  that  she  has  a  hearty  dinner  and  a  long  night 
of  rest,  or  I'll  order  in  a  doctor,  sure  as  fate." 

Barbara,  too,  had  risen.  He  turned  to  her  smil- 
ingly and  held  out  his  hand. 

"  Until  to-morrow — good-night." 

Rays  of  pure  gratitude  and  joy  shone  from  her 
eyes  as  she  lost  her  hand  in  his  clasp. 

"  Good-night,"  she  said.  "  I'll  promise  not  to  be 
so  weak,  or  such  a  trial  to-morrow." 

"  Please  don't  change  very  greatly,"  he  begged, 
" — except  to  forget  your  cares." 

He  went  with  a  vision  of  her  beauty  lending 
strange,  new  emotions  to  his  being.  He  was  driven 
at  once  to  a  florist's,  and  reckless  of  appearances,  his 
relationship  with  Iris  Puryn,  or  the  jealousy  of  fate, 
sent  a  gorgeous  armful  of  roses  with  his  card,  in- 
scribed to  "  Miss  Barbara  Lee." 

It  was  six  o'clock.  He  walked  the  few  blocks  up 
Fifth  Avenue  between  the  florist's  and  his  quarters 
and  dressed  himself  for  dinner. 

At  seven,  glad  for  once  to  think  of  dining  alone — 
with  his  thoughts  of  a  birthday  gift — he  made  his 


40  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

way  leisurely  into  the  gold  and  marble  dining-room 
conducted  in  the  building  and  selected  a  corner 
seat. 

The  waiter,  with  excited  attentiveness,  came  has- 
tening there  with  half  a  dozen  evening  papers,  as  if 
he  esteemed  them  the  first  essential  course  of  a 
dinner. 

Vail  ordered  with  extravagant  generosity  and  took 
up  the  Evening  Star. 

In  type  nearly  six  inches  high  and  red  as  gore 
appeared  a  headline  that  gripped  like  barbed  steel 
at  his  heart.  His  quick  eye  ran  over  the  lines. 

SENSATIONAL  MURDER  AND  THEFT! 

The   Great   Gatama  Ruby  Stolen  with   Gems 
of  Untold  Wealth! 

Police  Discover  a  Crime  That  Is  Three  Days 
Old! 

Wealthy  Indian  Maharajah  Lured  to  an  Empty 
House  of  Former  Grandeur  and  Slaughtered 
for  his  Treasures ! 

Frightened  Servant  of  the  Murdered  Prince 
Reveals  Amazing  Facts  in  a  Case  That  Doubt- 
less Involves  Most  Intricate  Tangle  of  Plots! 

In  less  than  three  minutes  of  reading  Vail  was 
convinced  that  the  world-famous  gem  described  in 
the  sheet  was  the  ruby  at  present  reposing  in  the 
empty  shell  on  his  desk! 


CHAPTER  VI 

MISGIVINGS   AND    STRUGGLES 

THE  account  in  the  Star,  though  several  times 
repeated  as  to  details,  was  nevertheless  unsat- 
isfactory in  many  particulars,  especially  to  Vail. 

In  brief,  it  related  how  the  metropolitan  police, 
warned  by  one  Dalai  Kim,  a  self-styled  servant  of 
the  Maharajah  Sindore,  to  the  effect  that  his  emi- 
nent master  had  been  for  several  days  missing  from 
his  lodgings,  had  upon  this  afternoon  discovered  the 
distinguished  Indian  Prince,  slain  in  one  of  New 
York's  former  palatial  residences,  now  empty  of 
tenants,  and  had  there  encountered  unmistakable 
evidence  of  the  blackest  sort  of  crime. 

The  house  showed  signs  of  recent  but  probably 
secret  occupancy,  for  it  was  dusty,  dilapidated,  and 
boarded  up  as  to  doors  and  windows.  All  the  former 
furnishings  had  been  piled  in  disorder  in  the  rooms 
of  the  second  story.  Indications  pointed  to  the 
fact  that  one  of  the  rooms  had  been  especially  pre- 
pared, cleaned,  and  reappointed  to  present  a  semi- 
hospitable  appearance.  It  had  become,  by  this  proc- 
ess, a  combination  dining-room  and  bedroom.  A  few 
scattered  dishes  and  fragments  of  food  still  re- 
mained upon  the  table,  coated  with  a  new  film  of 
dust  already  gathered  from  the  air. 

41 


42  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

The  murdered  man  had  been  strangled.  The  body 
was  found  in  one  of  the  empty  rooms  below  the 
furnished  quarters,  the  clothing  half -torn  from  the 
limbs,  and  a  belt  he  had  evidently  worn  beneath  his 
undergarments  slashed  wide  upon  and  rifled.  A 
slight  wound  gashed  upon  the  dead  man's  forehead, 
and  slightly  resembling  a  cross,  had  furnished  the 
one  small  trickle  of  red  that  argued  a  brief  but 
futile  struggle. 

It  was  Dalai  Kim  who  supplied  the  information 
that  the  Maharajah  Sindore  had  borne  upon  his 
person  the  great  Gatama  ruby  and  a  treasury  of 
lesser  stones,  consisting  mainly  of  diamonds.  But 
concerning  the  reason  why  this  Oriental  prince  had 
come  to  Gotham,  or  why  he  should  have  brought  the 
famous  stone — held  sacred  in  the  temples  of  his 
gods — the  olive-colored  Dalai  Kim  was  incredibly 
uninformed. 

There  were  dark  hints  as  to  hidden  plots  in  which 
this  famous  jewel  might  have  figured.  Indeed,  the 
presence  of  the  wondrous  stone  in  the  uncongenial 
setting  of  Manhattan  was  alleged  to  be  the  most 
amazing  element  in  all  the  mysterious  business.  That 
its  final  possession  had  furnished  the  motive  for  the 
crime  was  boldly  declared  by  the  writer  who  had 
trimmed  up  the  story  for  the  Star. 

It  was  nothing  of  these  conjectures  that  held  or 
bothered  Vail.  He  was  oppressed  by  a  haunting 
conviction  that  somehow  Barbara  Lee  was  guiltily 
concerned  in  this  tangle  of  crime. 

What  could  be  more  insidious,  more  crafty,  and 


MISGIVINGS  AND  STRUGGLES         43 

baffling  to  investigation  than  for  such  a  young 
woman,  concealing  the  stone  in  the  heel  of  her  boot, 
to  masquerade  as  a  friendless  waif  of  destiny,  beneath 
the  protecting  care  and  interest  of  such  a  man  as 
himself? 

And  yet  she  has  appeared  so  entirely  frank  and 
innocent !  Moreover,  Gardner,  who  above  all  men 
would  be  glad  to  eliminate  a  rival  in  business  and 
love,  had  appeared  so  promptly  on  the  scene  at  the 
office,  and  with  such  a  slender  excuse ! 

The  stone  in  his  vase  was  the  great  Gatama  ruby 
— and  Vail  had  fondly  persuaded  himself  the  gem 
was  a  poor  crank's  imitation!  The  girl  had  been 
so  eager  concerning  her  shoes — repeatedly  worried 
and  solicitous!  She  must,  of  course,  have  known 
the  worth  of  that  little  pair  of  boots ! 

A  revealing  sense  of  the  appalling  extent  to  which 
he  was  himself  involved  came  glaringly  upon  his 
over-active  senses.  He  had  more  than  guilty  knowl- 
edge of  the  crime — he  had  the  stone  itself!  Already 
the  chief  of  police  was  aware  that  into  his  office  had 
been  carried  a  strange  young  woman,  in  a  box,  for 
whom  there  was  no  accounting.  The  story  of  this 
had  gone  around  past  all  redemption.  He  could 
never  hope  to  conceal  Miss  Lee  from  either  the  law 
or  his  friends. 

He  was  certain  both  the  law  and  his  friends  would 
presently  be  hot  on  her  trail.  Already  he  saw  her 
charged  with  complicity  in  this  sordid  crime.  She 
might  be  innocent,  despite  it  all;  and  by  no  earthly 
right  could  the  curious,  the  merciless,  or  the  victim- 


44  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

demanding  world  either  annoy  or  precondemn  her. 
She  was  young,  a  parentless  girl,  if  her  word  could 
be  accepted,  whose  plight  demanded  his  protection! 
Nevertheless,  he  derided  himself  for  his  folly.  He 
knew  nothing  of  her  parentage,  her  social  standing, 
or  her  antecedents. 

What  should  he  do  with  that  blood-red  ruby  in 
his  keeping?  How  should  he  come  upon  the  truth? 
And  how  fend  off  the  law?  How  far  might  the  New 
York  detectives  be  expected  to  follow  the  stone?  How 
far  should  he  go  in  concealing  the  secret  of  this 
strange  young  woman's  shoe? 

He  could  not  even  regret  her  advent  in  his  life — 
as  he  rose  from  the  table  to  escape  to  the  outer  air. 
Yet  he  somewhat  sickened  at  the  thought  that  all 
she  had  done  might  have  been  but  clever  acting. 

He  nearly  bowled  the  waiter  through  the  wall. 
The  fellow  had  come  with  his  dinner — viands  for 
which  the  worried  Vail  had  neither  the  appetite  nor 
inclination. 

"  Never  mind,"  he  said,  apologetically,  "  I  can't 
eat,  after  all." 

He  thrust  a  five-dollar  bill  on  the  tray  and  con- 
tinued on  to  the  door. 

"  Please,  Mr.  Vail ! "  cried  a  voice,  at  his  heels, 
and  he  turned  to  find  a  messenger  there  with  a  tele- 
gram offered  oil  a  tray. 

He  took  it  up  and  tore  the  yellow  envelope  apart, 
prepared  to  receive  another  shock  respecting  Miss 
Barbara  Lee.  But  the  wire  was  signed  with  the  name 
of  Iris  Puryn. 


MISGIVINGS  AND  STRUGGLES         45 

"  Please  call  this  evening  as  early  as  possible," 
was  the  text  of  her  request. 

He  went  out  in  the  street  and  was  presently  headed 
up  Fifth  Avenue,  already  being  rapidly  deserted. 

It  was  something  more  than  forty  blocks  to  the 
Puryn  mansion,  facing  Central  Park,  but  he  wished 
the  distance  twice  as  long,  for  his  need  of  open  air. 
He  had  all  but  forgotten  Iris  and  her  untoward  be- 
havior of  the  afternoon.  His  relations  with  her 
seemed  preposterous  now,  a  strange  arrangement  of 
conventionality  heretofore  accepted  with  little  or  no 
emotion. 

He  had,  he  admitted,  conceived  a  certain  sense  of 
triumph  over  Gardner  and  others,  in  engaging  him- 
self to  a  girl  of  Miss  Puryn's  characteristics.  She 
was  beautiful,  in  her  formal,  highly  finished  manner; 
she  was  as  wealthy  as  himself,  and  her  social  posi- 
tion was  assured.  She  had  been,  as  it  were,  the 
capital  prize  in  the  lottery  of  life  wherein  they  both 
revolved.  But  whether  he  had  captured  the  prize  or 
the  prize  had  captured  him  was  a  point  whereon 
he  had  felt  his  doubts,  in  a  tolerant,  half -interested 
manner. 

Already  it  appeared  to  him  unthinkable  that  she 
should  be  the  master  of  his  life.  Already  some 
nascent  resentment  was  arousing  in  his  veins,  at  the 
tone  of  assumption  and  authority  in  her  telegram 
desiring  him  to  appear.  It  was  not  that  he  contem- 
plated actual  emancipation  from  his  bond,  nor  yet 
that  he  was  ready  for  surrender  to  the  lawless  joys 
aroused  in  his  being  by  contact  with  Barbara  Lee. 


46  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

He  was,  however,  made  acutely  aware  that  everything 
heretofore  experienced  in  his  nature  had  been  but  the 
tamest,  insubstantial  excuse  for  the  steps  he  had 
taken,  and  that  he  was  honorably  bound  to  one  who 
left  him  cold,  while  a  sudden  interest  had  centered 
on  another  of  whom  he  knew  nothing  save  things 
that  appeared  as  black  as  the  very  abysses  of  Hades. 

What  he  should  do  or  say  when  he  once  more  con- 
fronted his  fiancee  he  scarcely  took  time  to  decide. 
He  was  far  more  concerned  with  tlie  aspect  of  things 
respecting  Miss  Lee  and  the  ruby  of  which  he  had 
become  the  reluctant  custodian.  His  duty  as  a  citi- 
zen, possessed  of  vital  knowledge  respecting  the  crime 
described  in  the  press,  was  clear  and  unmistakable. 
Yet  he  could  not  even  contemplate  a  confession  that 
must  instantly  sweep  the  helpless  girl  into  all  the 
vortex  of  the  law,  while  any  chance  of  her  innocence 
remained. 

Far  up  the  Avenue  he  swung  along,  past  the  great 
white  marble  cathedral,  past  the  brown-stone  palaces 
of  Gotham's  money  kings,  and  past  the  Plaza,  with 
its  conclave  of  mighty  hostelries,  busily  parting  fools 
from  their  cash.  Then  Central  Park  flung  vapors 
of  spring,  new  foliage,  and  fragrant  grass  athwart 
his  senses,  to  arouse  new  delights  in  his  nature. 

He  was  still  a  battlefield  for  fiercely  opposed  emo- 
tions when  he  came  at  length  to  the  Puryn  home  and 
was  ushered  upstairs  to  Iris's  Oriental  "  den." 


CHAPTER  VII 

HOW    MYSTERIES    MAY    THICKEN 

MISS  PURYN  was  still  excited.  Her  color  was 
high;  her  eyes  were  brilliant.  She  had  re- 
hearsed the  tale  of  what  occurred  in  Julian's  office 
till  every  word  he  had  uttered  and  every  accent  of 
the  word  had  taken  on  significance  demanding 
explanation. 

Her  one  regret  lay  in  the  fact  that  she  had  quitted 
the  office  prematurely.  It  was  what  had  happened 
since  that  moment  that  she  was  now  determined  to 
discover.  If  the  story  printed  in  the  evening 
press  concerning  the  murder  and  theft  of  gems 
had  come  to  her  attention  at  all,  it  had  been 
dismissed  as  trifling — compared  with  her  own 
affairs. 

She  had  purposely  assumed  a  calm  demeanor  she 
was  very  far  from  feeling.  She  greeted  Vail  with  a 
certain  air  of  ownership  and  conducted  him  at  once 
to  a  corner  most  stuffily  overdraped  with  Persian 
hangings,  where  a  door  that  led  to  apartments  be- 
yond had  long  been  closed  as  useless. 

She  broached  the  subject  promptly. 

"  I  thought  I  would  give  you  this  early  opportu- 
nity of  stating  what  disposition  you  have  made  of 

47 


48  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

the  '  present '  with  which  you  were  honored  this 
afternoon." 

Vail  resented  her  attitude  as  needlessly  derisive. 

"  You  probably  mean  Miss  Lee,"  he  answered.  "  I 
was  certain  your  curiosity  ceased  when  you  left  the 
office.  I  was  sorry  not  to  be  able  to  reach  you  after- 
wards and  warn  you  to  keep  the  occurrence  strictly 
secret,  by  way  of  aiding  in  clearing  up  the  puzzle." 

His  veiled  rebuke  for  her  senseless  spreading  of  the 
story  did  not  escape  her  discernment.  She  elevated 
her  brows. 

"  May  not  our  opinions  differ  as  to  the  value  of 
publicity  in  solving  your  diverting  '  mystery  '  ?  " 

"  They  doubtless  do  differ — widely,"  he  answered. 
"  Had  no  one  known  of  this  save  ourselves,  the  prac- 
tical joker  would  doubtless  have  revealed  himself  by 
asking  if  the  '  present '  was  received." 

"  That  is  hardly  here  nor  there,  at  present,"  she 
said,  watching  his  expression  narrowly.  "  I  am  far 
more  interested  to  know  what  you  have  since  done 
with  Miss  Lee." 

"  I  have  delivered  her  over  to  the  care  of  an  ex- 
cellent woman." 

"  Who  is  the  woman  ?     Where  does  she  live  ?  " 

"  She  is  no  one  you  know  or  would  ever  be  likely 
to  meet." 

"  You  mean  you  refuse  the  information  ?  " 

"  There  is  more  information  spread  about  the  mat- 
ter now  than  will  ever  serve  useful  ends  to  anyone 
concerned." 

Once  more  she  raised  her  brows. 


HOW  MYSTERIES  MAY  THICKEN      49 

"Are  you  not  forgetting  our  relationship?  This 
is  a  matter  that  concerns- me  intimately." 

"  In  what  respect  ? — more,  I  mean,  than  anything 
else  of  a  business  nature  that  transpires  wholly  in 
my  office,  during  office  hours  ?  " 

"  Do  you  mean  to  intimate  that  such  an  affair  as 
this  does  not  concern  me  in  the  least? — that  it  is 
just  like  any  ordinary  occurrence  of  business?  " 

He  was  not  to  be  fogged  or  entrapped. 

"  I  asked  you  in  what  respect  this  affair  touches 
you,  or  our — relations  ?  " 

Her  surprise  at  his  question  was  genuine. 

"  Wasn't  she  a  girl — a  living  girl — sent  to  you  as 
a  gift?" 

"  Am  I  obliged  to  accept  every  gift  that  some- 
one's folly  or  scheming  may  bring  to  my  door?  " 

"  You  refused  to  send  the  girl  away.  You  have 
harbored  her  since  and  refuse  to  tell  me  where." 

"And  that  argues  what?" 

"  It  might  argue  a  very  great  deal.  Are  you 
ready  to  declare  you  feel  no  personal  interest  in  the 
girl?" 

"  On  the  contrary,  I  take  a  decided  interest  in 
Miss  Lee,  and  also  in  the  meaning  and  intent  of  the 
whole  transaction.  I  purpose,  if  possible,  to  dis- 
cover who  was  behind "  He  turned  abruptly  at 

a  trifling  sound,  a  feeling  upon  him  that  someone, 
concealed  nearby,  was  overhearing  every  word. 

His  action  apparently  escaped  his  fiancee,  intent 
upon  her  catechism. 

"Have  you  employed  an  expert  detective?" 


50  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

"  I  have  not." 

"  I  thought  not,  and  I  trust  you  will  appreciate 
my  position  and  motives  when  I  inform  you  that  I 
have." 

Vail  looked  at  her  steadily,  if  possible  more  an- 
noyed than  before.  A  sudden  suspicion  flashed  upon 
his  mind.  Her  detective  might  be  present  in  the 
room. 

"  Is  he  here  in  the  house  to-night  ?  " 

"  He  is  not.  He  will  call  to  see  you  in  the  morn- 
ing." 

Half-convinced  there  was  someone  hidden  by  the 
heavily  folded  curtain,  Vail's  doubts  remained  alive. 

"  Who  is  it  you  have  hired  ?  " 

"  Who  could  I  hire  but  Mr.  Garrison  ?  " 

"  You  are  very  thoughtful,"  said  Vail,  sincerely 
gratified  to  know  the  affair  would  at  least  be  handled 
with  the  most  consummate  skill.  Indeed,  the  more 
he  reflected  upon  it  the  more  he  welcomed  the  ad- 
vent of  Garrison,  the  criminologist,  who,  more  than 
any  man  he  knew,  would  be  likely  to  sift  this  matter 
to  the  bottom  as  a  gentleman  and  not  as  a  mere  com- 
mon sleuth. 

If  Iris  had  expected  a  flare  of  indignation  at  her 
action,  she  concealed  her  disappointment.  Her  man- 
ner was  no  less  cold  than  before. 

"  Perhaps  you  will  feel  sufficient  confidence  in  Mr. 
Garrison  to  inform  him  of  the  things  you  feel 
obliged  to  conceal  from  me." 

Vail  shrugged  his  shoulders.  He  was  nettled,  with 
the  weight  of  his  knowledge  upon  him. 


HOW  MYSTERIES  MAY  THICKEN      51 

"  I  intend  to  work  this  matter  out  my  way,  from 
first  to  last.  The  help  he  might  have  rendered 
earlier  is  now  impossible.  I  am  accustomed  to 
handling  my  business  affairs  in  my  own  particular 
manner — and  frequently  alone." 

Iris  was  crimson. 

"  Take  care,  Julian,'*  she  warned  him,  in  a  voice 
that  betrayed  her  emotion.  "  I  may  cease  to  be  so 
patient  with  this  '  practical  joke  '  if  you  carry  your 
high-handed  attitude  too  far." 

Vail  arose,  in  a  growing  uneasiness  of  spirit. 

"  This  is  an  ill  time  to  discuss  our  patience  with 
one  another.  I  have  refrained  from  complaining  of 
interference  that  has  already — • — " 

"  Interference?  "  she  interrupted.  "Am  I  a  mere 
child — a  mere  incident  in  this  affair.  Have  I  no 
rights,  no " 

Vail  had  started  to  seat  himself  again  when  the 
faintest  rustle  aroused  his  suspicions  as  before  and 
quickened  the  beat  of  his  heart. 

"  Iris "  he  started,  and  turning  alertly  to  the 

curtain  was  positive  it  swayed  a  trifle  outward,  as 
if  from  a  draught  of  air. 

He  stood  beside  the  couch  a  second,  undecided, 
then  turning,  as  if  to  pace  across  the  tiger-skin  rug, 
made  a  feint  of  tripping  and  plunged  headforemost 
towards  the  draperies,  clutching  them  as  if  for 
support, 

He  expected  his  arms  to  close  about  a  human  form, 
but  nothing  was  there  save  the  door. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,"  he  said,  at  once.     "  That 


52  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

was  stupidly  awkward,  and  nearly  cost  me  a  fall.  I 
believe  I'm  nervous.  I've  eaten  no  dinner.  I'll  be 
wiser  to  bid  you  good-night." 

Iris,  too,  had  risen. 

"  Let  me  ring  for  something  at  once." 

"  I  couldn't  eat,"  he  answered.  "  I  didn't  mean  to 
hint  that  I  am  hungry." 

Iris  blocked  his  way. 

"  You  can  hardly  be  more  overwrought  than  I 
concerning  this  outrageous  '  joke,'  as  you  please  to 
call  it.  We  have  scarcely  more  than  begun  the  dis- 
cussion of  the  subject.  How  can  you  leave?  " 

Vail  concealed  his  impatience. 

"  What  possible  profit  can  result  from  further 
disagreements  on  the  topic  ?  " 

"  That's  precisely  it,"  she  declared,  with  warmth. 
"  Why  must  you  so  stubbornly  persist  in  disa- 
greeing with  my  conceptions  of  the  case?  Of  course, 
if  you  have  lost  your  heart  and  reason  to  Miss 
Lee " 

He  crimsoned. 

"  Iris  !    Do  you  think  that  a  worthy  speech  ?  " 

He  could  think  of  nothing  else  to  say  with  her  shot 
so  accurately  centered.  A  sense  of  shame  at  his 
senselessness,  his  helplessness  in  the  matter,  made  her 
accusation  sting. 

"  Worthy  ?  "  she  echoed.  "  Am  I  posted  to  the 
world  as  your  fiancee  or  am  I  not?  The  least  you 
can  do  is  to  tell  me  what  you  mean  to  do  with  Miss 
Lee." 

"  I  mean  to  treat  her  as  a  human  being — not  as 


HOW  MYSTERIES  MAY  THICKEN      53 

an  outcast  animal  to  be  sent  to  some  institution  for 
merciful  asphyxiation." 

"  You  said  you  would  send  her  home." 

"  She  seems  to  have  no  home." 

"  But  don't  you  see  that  you  simply  cannot  put 
her  in  a  private  place  and  pay  her  expenses?  You 
can  see  how  that  must  appear." 

He  smiled,  mirthlessly. 

"  To  whom  would  you  have  me  shift  the  burden  ? 
Will  you  give  her  shelter  here?  " 

"Here?"  she  echoed.  "Are  you  mad?  Don't 
you  realize  that  anyone  sent  about  in  a  box  like  that 

must  be  the  commonest Oh,  I  don't  know  what 

to  think  of  your  judgment — your  consideration  of 
me!  I  shall  simply  be  obliged  to  insist  that 
you " 

Her  demand  was  interrupted.  Her  sister  Enid  ap- 
peared in  the  door  dressed  as  if  returning  from  an 
evening  drive  in  her  car. 

"  Oh,  here  you  are ! "  she  called  at  once,  in  a  tone 
of  gayety  that  never  failed  to  jar  on  Julian's  nerves. 
"  I  thought  I  heard  voices.  How  ghastly  to  be  in- 
doors to-night !  It's  simply  glorious  !  "  She  ad- 
vanced with  her  hand  extended. 

Vail  felt  he  had  never  known  such  an  incor- 
rigible hand-shaker  in  the  world  as  Enid  Puryn, 
nor  a  person  more  exciting  to  his  antagonistic 
emotions. 

Older  than  Iris  by  several  years,  incredibly  arti- 
ficial in  her  manners  and  methods  of  life,  and  quite 
unmagnetic,  she  had  been  consistently  shunned  by 


54  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

suitors  of  all  degrees,  yet  apparently  survived  her 
disappointments  with  the  sprightliest  indifference. 

She  was  one  of  those  "  almost "  women — almost 
beautiful,  and  almost  charming,  but  never  quite  up 
to  the  standard  of  things  femininely  normal.  Yet 
she  was  gay  and  tenacious  of  her  youth  and  the  life 
that  her  youngers  led.  She  was  always  on  the  go. 
She  was  amazingly  independent,  living  her  ways  in  a 
privacy  and  seclusion,  even  here  with  the  remainder 
of  the  family,  that  might  have  seemed  impossible 
to  those  who  knew  less  of  her  peculiar  characteristics. 

"  You  two  have  not  been  quarreling? "  she  de- 
manded, smilingly.  "  What  is  it,  Julian  ? — something 
about  your  wonderful  adventure?  Tell  me  all  about 
it — just  what  happened.  Iris  has  been  too  excited, 
of  course.  What  did  you  think  ?  What  did  you  do  ? 
How  could  anything  so  singular  occur?  What  have 
you  done  with  her  now — the  girl  in  the  box?  " 

"  Enid !  if  you  please !  "  said  Iris.  "  You  are  in- 
terrupting a  discussion  that  was  not  intended  to  be 
entirely  public." 

Vail  rather  welcomed  Enid  than  otherwise — for 


once 

« 


I  am  certain  further  discussion  to-night  would 
be  quite  profitless,"  he  observed,  attempting  a  smile. 
"  And  the  matter  has  been  so  thoroughly  reported 
there  is  nothing  new  to  add."  He  moved  again  to- 
wards the  door. 

"  Oh,  but  I'm  not  driving  you  away  ?  "  said  Enid, 
regretfully.  "  I  could  never  forgive  myself  for 
that.  If  you  wish  it,  Julian,  I'll  never  mention  the 


HOW  MYSTERIES  MAY  THICKEN      55 

subject  again.  You  see  I  couldn't  know,  of  course, 
whether  it  appealed  to  you  as  a  joke  or  a  tragedy." 

"  You  are  very  kind,"  said  Vail.  "  The  point  is 
still  undecided." 

Enid  showed  her  animation  in  a  smile. 

"  Oh,  good !  That's  so  much  more  interesting ! 
Don't  you  think  so,  Iris  ?  " 

Iris  was  hardly  more  mollified  than  before. 

"  I  agree  with  Mr.  Vail  it  is  not  a  topic  for  this 
sort  of  discussion.  I  think  I  mentioned  we  were  talk- 
ing privately." 

"  Oh,  I  didn't  overlook  the  former  hint,"  was 
Enid's  good-natured  rejoinder.  "  But  when  Julian 
seemed  to  be  going " 

"  He  was  not !  "  Iris  interrupted. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,"  said  Vail,  "  by  your  leave, 
I  think  I  shall.  My  nerves,  I  find,  are  a  little  on 
edge  from  overstrain  of  birthday  attentions." 

"There!"  said  Enid.  "I  think  it's  horrid  of 
them  all — everyone  who  has  heckled  you  about  it! 
I  was  going  to  ask  you  when  we  could  have  another 
game  of  chess." 

"  Not  to-night,"  said  Vail,  who  had  singularly 
enough  enjoyed  not  a  few  of  these  engagements  with 
the  peculiar  Miss  Puryn,  whose  play  had  a  -worthy 
craft  and  far-reaching  subtlety  about  it.  "  I  should 
make  no  worthy  showing  at  the  game." 

"  Oh,  yes,  you  would !  but  I  should  be  so  selfish 
to  ask  it,"  Enid  answered,  sympathetically.  "  Good- 
night. I  trust  all  else  may  prove  to  be  nothing  but 
a  joke."  She  gave  him  a  clinging,  friendly  grasp 


56  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

and  departed  from  the  room,  leaving  him  not  un- 
grateful for  a  view  of  her  nature  he  had  never  here- 
tofore suspected. 

Iris  had  resumed  a  certain  hauteur  that  never  in- 
creased her  charm. 

"  I  think  you  understand  my  attitude  and  the 
only  decision  possible  from  my  point  of  view  in  this 
affair,"  she  told  him,  coldly.  "  I  appreciate  your 
generosity  towards  the  apparently  helpless,  but  I 
warn  you,  Julian,  not  to  strain  my  patience  too  far." 

"  Thank  you,  both  for  the  appreciation  and  the 
warning,"  he  answered.  ."I  am  sure  we  shall  both 
be  wiser  to  drop  the  subject  for  to-night." 

Despite  her  further  insistence  and  a  final  effort  to 
compel  him  to  promise  that  Miss  Lee  should  be 
promptly  dismissed  from  their  lives,  he  presently 
made  his  escape  without  provoking  a  positive  breach 
of  their  relationship — and  was  once  more  alone  with 
his  troubles. 

He  knew  not  where  to  go  or  what  to  do.  Aimlessly 
he  wandered  down  the  Avenue  again,  concentrating 
all  his  thoughts  on  the  day's  occurrences  and  ques- 
tioning his  inmost  heart,  that  his  will  no  longer 
swayed. 

It  was  not  until  he  reached  the  glare  of  Forty- 
second  Street  and  turned  to  follow  its  blazing  lights 
to  Broadway,  yet  more  brilliant  on  beyond,  that  he 
awoke  to  his  actual  surroundings. 

"  All  about  the  ruby  murder !  "  shrilled  a  tired, 
monotonous  voice  where  a  newsboy  vended  his  wares, 
and,  turning  involuntarily,  Vail  beheld  the  latest 


HOW  MYSTERIES  MAY  THICKEN      57 

findings  in  the  case.     A  line  of  red  that  stared  him 
in  the  face  read  simply: 

"  UNKNOWN  WOMAN  LEAVES  A  SIGN  OF  GUILT  ! " 

And  the  sign  was  reproduced  in  a  six-inch  picture 
of  the  print  of  a  woman's  thumb. 

He  bought  the  sheet  and,  halting  close  to  a  lighted 
window,  scanned  the  printed  columns  with  an  un- 
named dread  at  his  heart. 

The  account  gave  him  nothing  essentially  new  be- 
yond the  fact  that  the  print  of  a  thumb,  declared 
by  experts  on  the  case  to  be  that  of  a  woman,  had 
been  found  on  a  blood-smeared  panel  in  the  house 
where  the  Indian  Prince  had  met  his  end. 

Vail  stuffed  the  paper  in  his  pocket  and  continued 
on  to  the  crowded  tides  of  Broadway,  down  which, 
still  without  purpose,  he  turned  to  wander  as  before. 

If  the  Star  had  served  no  better  purpose,  it  had 
planted  a  haunting  worry  in  his  mind  respecting  the 
ruby,  so  artlessly  concealed  at  his  office.  A  thousand 
fears  of  its  discovery  assailed  him.  The  janitress 
who  cleaned  the  place  had  once  knocked  that  tall 
brass  shell  from  the  desk  and  spilled  out  all  its  water. 
Should  such  an  accident  happen  again 

He  glanced  at  a  clock  before  a  shop.  The  hour 
was  barely  half-past  ten.  It  might  not  be  impossi- 
ble to  get  to  his  office  now,  at  once,  though  the  build- 
ing's main  entrance  would  be  closed. 

A  new  impatience  seized  him,  a  wild  desire  to  take 
that  ruby  from  the  vase  and  drop  it  somewhere  in 


58  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

the  street.  He  hailed  a  cab  and  was  driven  down 
the  thoroughfare  at  a  pace  that  seemed  but  crawl- 
ing, though  the  driver  lost  little  time. 

The  door  at  the  side  of  the  building  was  open  and 
a  watchman  permitted  him  to  enter.  Excited  and 
eager,  Vail  was  presently  striding  down  an  echoing 
hall  with  the  dimmest  light  to  give  him  guidance. 

He  opened  his  private  door,  went  in,  switched  on 
the  light — and  stood  there  motionless  with  astonish- 
ment. 

The  place  had  been  entered  and  robbed ! 

Every  drawer  and  cabinet  the  place  contained  had 
been  emptied  of  its  contents,  which  were  scattered  all 
over  the  floor.  The  safe  was  standing  open,  its  com- 
partments stripped  of  all  that  they  had  held. 

Vail,  with  a  sudden  divination  of  the  meaning  of  it 
all,  ran  forward  to  the  yawning  iron  box.  There  he 
paused  while  a  clammy  perspiration  broke  out  upon 
his  brow. 

Barbara's  shoes  were  gone! 


CHAPTER  VIII 

BAFFLING   ANSWEKS    AND    A    FLIGHT 

OUT  of  all  the  confusion  of  his  mind  Vail  pres- 
ently conjured  a  single  hope,  that  was  doomed 
to  immediate  extinction. 

He  hoped  the  thieves  had  found  and  taken  the 
ruby. 

They  had  not.  When  he  moved  across  the  room 
to  his  desk  and  took  up  the  tall  brass  vase  to  give 
it  a  shake,  the  great  red  gem  reposing  in  the  water 
at  the  bottom  rattled  sharply  against  the  metal 
walls. 

He  put  the  shell  in  place  again,  afraid  to  throw 
the  stone  away  or  take  it  from  the  room.  He  realized 
it  was  hidden  as  all  the  skill  of  the  shrewdest  thief 
could  not  have  planned.  It  was  here  so  nearly  lying 
in  one's  plain  sight  that  no  one,  searching  his  pos- 
sessions, would  ever  be  likely  to  find  it. 

Automatically,  and  as  one  who  refuses  to  badger 
his  brains  with  further  futile  puzzling,  he  stooped  to 
the  floor  and  gathered  up  his  scattered  documents, 
returning  each  bundle  to  its  place.  A  hurried  sur- 
vey of  the  papers  convinced  him  at  once  that  nothing 
strictly  his  own  had  been  purloined.  In  fact,  there 
was  every  possible  evidence  that  the  thief  or  thieves 
had  made  a  wild  and  hasty  search  for  the  shoes,  and 

59 


60  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

having  found  them  in  the  safe — which  he  himself  had 
left  unlocked — had  snatched  them  and  hurriedly 
fled. 

The  outer  offices,  where  securities  and  money  were 
available  to  anyone  with  the  skill  to  crack  a  second 
safe,  had  apparently  not  been  entered. 

How  he  passed  the  remainder  of  the  night  Vail 
never  knew.  So  utterly  complete  appeared  the  in- 
dictment of  Barbara  Lee — who  alone  was  aware  that 
her  shoes  had  been  placed  in  his  iron  box  for  keep- 
ing— that  he  closed  his  mind  and  gave  up  all  effort 
to  think. 

He  did  not,  however,  surrender  hope.  He  remem- 
bered afterwards,  dimly,  that  he  worked  for  perhaps 
an  hour  in  the  office,  restoring  the  last  little  item  to 
the  order  so  rudely  disturbed,  primarily  to  conceal 
the  facts  of  the  burglarizing  enterprize  from 
Broughton  and  the  others  of  his  force,  who  would 
come  there  in  the  morning. 

If  nothing  were  reported,  either  to  the  city  police 
or  the  authorities  of  the  building,  not  only  might 
the  criminal  eventually  reveal  himself,  but  no  one 
else  could  possibly  suspect  Miss  Lee  or  connect  her 
with  the  ruby.  That  the  person  now  in  possession 
of  the  shoes  must  already  have  discovered  the  absence 
of  the  ruby  from  the  hollowed  heel  was  certain.  That 
another  and  perhaps  more  thorough  effort  to  retake 
the  missing  stone  would  eventually  be  made  he  could 
entertain  no  doubt. 

All  these  and  a  thousand  reflections  more  the  man 
had  finally  taken  with  him  to  his  bed.  And  conceding 


BAFFLING  ANSWERS  AND  A  FLIGHT     61 

at  last  that,  though  the  day  had  been  like  an  age 
in  length,  he  had  nevertheless  known  Miss  Lee  con- 
siderably less  than  twenty-four  hours  after  all,  he 
summoned  some  sort  of  philosophy  to  his  aid  and 
fell  asleep.  His  last  waking  thought  was  focused 
on  the  ruby,  still  undisturbed  in  the  vase. 

His  chapter  of  trials  and  adventures  was  only 
well  begun. 

The  morning,  however,  found  him  well  restored  to 
the  resourcefulness  and  power  that  had  made  him 
what  he  was.  He  told  himself  that  sentiment  should 
have  no  further  part  in  the  work  that  he  must  do. 
He  was  fully  aware  he  had  handicapped  himself  from 
the  outset  of  the  matter  by  what  he  now  deemed  an 
overnice  consideration  of  the  girl  who  was  sent  him 
as  a  gift.  So  long  as  he  continued  this  sentimental 
protection  of  Miss  Lee,  he  was  powerless  to  invoke 
the  aid  of  police,  a  private  detective,  or  ordinary 
reason. 

It  was  the  cold,  disillusioned  man  of  business, 
purged  of  all  romance  by  the  night,  that  faced  the 
mystery  now  and  took  appraisement  of  the  dangers 
that  lurked  for  himself  in  the  case.  Yet  when  he 
thought  that  perhaps  the  shoes  had  been  left  at  his 
office  through  the  arts  of  a  clever  young  woman,  and 
that,  later,  Barbara  had  possibly  shammed  the  de- 
lirium in  which  she  cast  her  arms  about  his  neck,  his 
whole  chivalrous  being  rose  in  revolt  and  cried  shame 
to  such  suspicions. 

To  clear  up  the  matter  involving  himself,  Miss 
Lee,  and  the  ruby  had  become  an  important  business 


68  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

necessity.  The  affair  was  far  too  sinister  of  aspect 
to  permit  of  the  slightest  neglect.  A  terrible  crime 
had  been  committed ;  and  the  hounds  of  the  law  were 
already  on  the  trails,  of  which  one  led  to  his  office. 

He  breakfasted  normally  and  appeared  at  his  of- 
fice at  nine.  There  was  nothing  at  the  place  to  show 
for  the  burglary  of  which  he  alone  was  aware. 
Twenty  minutes  after  his  arrival  Detective  Garrison 
telephoned  to  confirm  Miss  Puryn's  appointment. 

"  Don't  let  me  butt  into  this  business  unless  I  can 
be  useful,"  said  the  voice  of  the  criminologist  over 
the  wire.  "  You  have  only  to  hint  that  the  matter  is 
entirely  private  to " 

"  Not  at  all,"  interrupted  Vail.  "  I  shall  be  more 
than  glad  to  see  you." 

"  Look  for  me,  then,  before  eleven,"  Garrison  re- 
quested. "  I  have  very  important  work  that  will  keep 
me  about  an  hour." 

Vail  went  through  his  mail  in  a  superficial  man- 
ner. Leaving  instructions  with  Broughton  to  call 
him  on  the  telephone  at  Mrs.  Loomis's,  should  occa- 
sion arise  within  the  hour,  he  departed  at  once  for 
the  house  where  Barbara  was  domiciled,  warning  him- 
self to  exercise  the  utmost  caution  in  all  that  he  said 
and  did.  From  the  outside  entrance  of  the  building 
he  was  shadowed  all  the  way  by  a  well-dressed  man, 
whose  attentions  entirely  escaped  his  observation. 

Despite  the  fact  that  Julian  had  armed  himself 
with  iron  resolution,  he  felt  his  heart  becoming  irre- 
sponsible the  moment  he  came  to  the  presence  of  his 
dainty  little  "  Gift  of  the  Gods." 


BAFFLING  ANSWERS  AND  A  FLIGHT     63 


One  of  his  roses  she  wore  upon  her  breast.  ^.11  its 
beauty,  however,  paled  into  insignificance  in  the  light 
of  her  girlish  smile.  He  had  never  in  his  life  beheld 
a  smile  so  radiant,  so  artlessly  glad,  so  surprised  in 
sweet  revelations  of  the  happiness  born  in  a  lonely 
heart  that  finds  itself  befriended  and  fostered  at 
last. 

She  was  as  exquisite  as  all  that  rose's  fragrance, 
as  lovely  as  one  of  its  petals,  as  she  stood  there  in 
the  sunlight  that  streamed  in  so  clearly  at  the  win- 
dow. 

She  was  such  an  embodiment  of  color,  with  the 
brown  of  her  eyes,  the  deep  bronze  red  of  her  hair, 
and  the  cream  and  rose  of  her  cheeks  !  Her  gaze  met 
Vail's  with  the  frankest  trust  —  and  something  far 
deeper  than  friendship. 

In  that  moment's  encounter  there  was  vastly  more 
eloquence  of  heart  to  heart  than  the  words  of  all 
tongues  could  utter.  There  were  things  too  deep 
for  comprehension  —  things  that  neither,  by  the  ut- 
most will,  could  ever  retract,  should  either  so  desire, 
no  matter  what  might  follow.  Vail  tossed  upon  the 
couch  a  morning  paper  he  had  brought,  with  a  full 
account  of  the  "  Ruby  Crime." 

Then  Barbara  came  a  little  forward,  holding  forth 
her  hand. 

"  Oh,"  she  said,  happily,  "  I  haven't  thought  of 
any  way  to  thank  you,  much  as  I've  tried  !  " 

"  Oh,  yes,  you  have  !  "  he  answered.  "  You're 
restored  —  you're  happy  —  at  least  you  seem  - 
You're  more  like  yourself  this  morning?  " 


64  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

$Ie  took  her  hand.  The  mists  shrank  abashed  from 
his  mind.  Some  mighty  exaltation  seized  him  and 
bore  him  aloft  and  he  grasped  for  a  hold  on  his 
calmer,  steadier  reason. 

"  I  know  I  haven't  the  slightest  right  to  feel  so — 

feel "     She  stammered,  and  she  flushed  to  the 

roots  of  her  hair.     "  Perhaps  it's  having  a  friend 
that  makes You  know  I've  had  so  few." 

A  lump  came  instantly  in  Julian's  throat,  he  hardly 
knew  the  reason  why. 

"  You  have  all  the  right  in  the  world  to  all  the 
happiness  that  friendship  or  anything  brings,"  he 
assured  her,  fervently.  Then  he  felt  her  little  fingers 
slip  away  from  his  with  a  sense  of  irreparable  loss. 
"  I  came  for  a  few  minutes  only,"  he  added,  forcing 
himself  once  more  to  face  the  stern  realities  by  which 
they  were  confronted.  "  I  felt  I  must  ask  a  few 
more  questions — to  clear  up  our  little  mystery." 

"  If  I  could  only  really  help  you ! "  she  answered, 
moving  towards  a  chair.  "  I  wish  to  do  all  I  can." 
The  color  had  left  her  face  again,  however,  to  return 
less  gloriously.  She  forced  herself  to  meet  his  gaze. 
"  Has — anything  else  occurred  ?  " 

Vail  noted  the  question  and  the  hesitation  with 
which  her  lips  pronounced  it.  He  wondered  how  far 
she  might  be  acquainted  with  the  burglary  of  his 
office. 

He  chose  for  the  moment  to  ignore  her  inquiry. 

"  I  want  you  to  try  to  remember  all  about  the 
woman  who  met  you  at  the  train,"  he  said,  quietly. 
"  Also  the  house  to  which  you  were  taken,  and  what 


BAFFLING  ANSWERS  AND  A  FLIGHT     65 

j.cu  tatc,  and  how  long  it  was  before  you  fell  asleep, 
io  wake  at  last  in  my  office." 

She  seemed  relieved  to  escape  a  more  personal 
inquisition. 

"  Why,  the  woman — Mrs.  Cree — was  just  an  or- 
dinary person,  although  I  imagine  her  hair  was 
bleached,  for  her  skin  was  very  dark." 

"  Was  she  large,  or  small?  " 

"  She  was  just  of  medium  size.  She  was  wearing 
a  veil  when  she  met  me,  and  kept  it  on  part  of  her 
face,  even  at  luncheon.  But  about  the  house  there 
was  something  queer — or  perhaps  it  was  all  a 
dream." 

"It  was  not  an  ordinary  house?" 

She  appeared  to  make  an  effort  to  solidify  a  lot 
of  filmy  impressions  in  her  mind. 

"  It  may  be  part  of  my  fancy. — I'm  sorry  nothing 
comes  back  very  clearly,  no  matter  how  I  try. — 

But  I'm  almost  sure  there  were  iron  men Oh, 

but  that's  absurd!  It  might  have  been  a  room  full 
of  old  armor,  though  I  never  saw  an  armor  in  my 
life — nothing  more  than  a  picture — but  it  must  have 
been  that,  or  just  a  part  of  a  dream." 

Vail  leaned  forward,  tense  with  interest. 

"  You  think  you  saw  a  room  filled  with  armor — 
or  iron  men?  Was  that  before  or  after  lunch?  " 

Her  eyes  were  focused  dreamily  on  emptiness.  She 
passed  her  hand  across  her  forehead. 

"  I  wish  I  could  remember  clearly,  but  I  can't." 

"  Not  even  what  you  ate  ?  Was  there  anything 
that  tasted  peculiar?  " 


66  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

"  Oh,  the  coffee  was  very  bad,  indeed !  " 

"  And  you  said  you  came  to  New  York  on  Friday, 
just  before  noon?" 

"  No,  on  Saturday." 

He  knew  she  had  told  him  Saturday  before,  but 
had  taken  this  means  of  verifying  her  former  state- 
ment. He  could  not  avoid  the  conviction  she  was 
telling  him  the  truth,  yet  all  this  business  of  the 
ruby  and  her  shoes  was  an  unlaid  ghost  that  he  must 
down. 

"  Now,  about  your  father,"  he  said,  watching  her 
face  narrowly.  "  Did  he  leave  you  practically  desti- 
tute? Was  his  business  such  that  nothing  could  be 
saved  ?  " 

Her  uneasiness  became  apparent  immediately. 

"  He — he  left  nothing — I'm  afraid — unless  it 
might  be  some  papers  that  I  haven't  been  able  to 

find,  though  he  said Do  you  suppose  I  can  ever 

find  my  trunk  again  ?  " 

"  I  hope  so,"  said  Vail,  intent  upon  following  up 
the  subject  of  her  father.  "  We'll  see  about  that 
later.  Was  invention  Mr.  Lee's  only  profession? 
Did  he  make  his  living  by  inventions  ?  " 

She  was  plainly  distressed. 

"  He — he  had  some  other  means  of  securing 

Is  it  very  helpful  to  talk  about  my  father  ?  " 

"  Would  you  rather  we  would  not  ?  " 

She  looked  at  him  appealingly. 

"  Until  I  can  get  my  trunk I've  thought  it 

might  have  a  secret  recess  somewhere.  He  may  have 
meant  to  direct  me  to  something  of  the  kind,  and 


BAFFLING  ANSWERS  AND  A  FLIGHT     67 

until  I  know I  thought  you  only  cared  to  solve 

the  mystery  about  the  box — and  me — who  sent  me, 
and  what  it  means  ?  " 

"  I  do,"  he  said,  once  more  leaning  forward,  more 
anxious  to  establish  her  innocence  than  anything  in 
all  the  world.  "  I  need  your  help — and  your  trust. 
Is  there  anything  you  feel  you  must  conceal  respect- 
ing your  father?  " 

The  look  of  anguish  and  worry  in  her  eyes  was 
unmistakable. 

"Oh,  I  don't  know! — I  mean No!  No! 

There  mustn't  be !  There  couldn't  be !  "  she  cried. 
"  Please  wait  a  little — please !  .  Why  must  we  talk 
of  him  now  ?  " 

"  Because  a  detective  is  to  call  on  me  at  eleven, 
and  I  want  all  the  facts  I  can  get."  He  saw  her 
pale  and  yet  he  continued,  for  the  good  of  all  con- 
cerned. "  You  see,  very  serious  consequences  may 
result  to  me,  and  to  you,  from  what  has  already 
occurred.  In  self -protection,  I  am  now  obliged  to 
sift  this  thing  to  the  bottom." 

"A  detective?"  she  repeated,  in  obvious  alarm. 
"  Has  anything  else — anything  new — happened — 
since  yesterday  ?  "  • 

"  What  else  could  happen  ?  "  he  inquired,  fearing 
for  guilty  knowledge  she  might  betray  at  last. 

She  arose  and  turned  to  the  window. 

"  Oh,  I  don't  know. — But — things  might. — If 

anything  should  happen  to  you  through  me " 

She  turned  to  face  him,  candidly.  "  Believe  me,  I 
am  more  than  grateful,  Mr.  Vail — but — you'd  want 


68  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

me  to  be  loyal  to  my  father !  Oh,  I  mean I 

don't  know  what  I  mean — but  I  couldn't  permit 

him Oh,  if  I'd  only  stayed  at  home  and  found 

the  papers !  " 

Vail's  distress  was  almost  equal  to  her  own,  so  in- 
sistent and  unrelenting  was  his  demand  that  she 
should  be  guiltless. 

He  could  do  no  less  than  continue,  in  justice  to 
them  both.  Some  way,  despite  it  all,  she  had  be- 
come more  dear,  more  precious  to  him  than  very 
life  itself,  and  yet  he  felt  that  he  must  know  pre- 
cisely what  she  was  before  he  could  face  the  crimi- 
nologist,  presently  due  at  his  office. 

"  Barbara,  what  is  it  you  expect  those  papers  to 
establish?" 

Some  joy  that  leaped  in  her  bosom  at  the  sound 
of  her  name  on  his  lips  subsided  in  a  tremor  of  fear 
at  the  sternness  of  his  query. 

"  How  should  I  know  ?  "  she  answered.  "  How 
could  I  possibly  know  ?  " 

"It  is  something  that  perhaps  you  fear?" 

Tears  sprang  abruptly  from  her  eyes. 

"  Oh,  please  don't  make  me  say  so,  when  I've  tried 

so  hard  to  think I  know,  I  know  that  he  was 

good — the  best,  the  kindest  father  in  the  world ! 
And  if  I  should  find  out  something — some  secret  he 
kept — I'd  keep  it  if  it  killed  me  on  the  spot ! "  She 
turned  away  to  suppress  a  sob,  that  broke  despite 
her  efforts. 

"  There,  there,"  said  Vail,  afflicted  by  a  sense  that, 
while  she  was  doubtless  innocent  of  anything  that 


BAFFLING  ANSWERS  AND  A  FLIGHT     69 

might  have  happened,  she  was  perhaps  concealing 
the  guilt  of  her  father,  "  I  wouldn't  worry  to-day. 
I  shouldn't  have  bothered  you  like  this  if  it 
weren't " 

The  door  was  opened  abruptly,  and  Mrs.  Loomis 
thrust  in  her  head  and  shoulders. 

"  You're  wanted  on  the  'phone,  Mr.  Vail,"  she  an- 
nounced. "  Shall  I  ask  them  to  give  me  the 
message?  " 

"  I'll  come,"  said  Vail.  He  went  to  the  instru- 
ment and  answered  Broughton's  call. 

"  I  thought  perhaps  you  ought  to  know  at  once," 
his  man  informed  him,  "  that  someone  in  the  Street 
is  selling  B.  &  K.  C.  rather  heavily.  The  price  has 
broken  badly.  Will  you  give  an  order  to  support 
the  market?" 

"  No,"  said  Vail.  "  Close  up  that  option  on 
Green's  ten  thousand  shares.  Wire  Charlie  in  Bos- 
ton to  pick  up  everything  there,  and  give  Shears 
and  Shears  order  number  thirty-one.  They'll  under- 
stand." 

For  perhaps  five  minutes  he  stood  there,  complet- 
ing his  instructions.  His  face  was  grim  when  he 
hung  the  receiver  in  place.  So  Gardner  was  out  to 
get  him  on  B.  &  K.  C.  already!  From  what  had 
Gardner  concluded  that  these  new  affairs  might  so 
engross  a  rival's  time  that  his  business  plans  must 
suffer?  The  subject  was  dropped  temporarily,  for 
reflection  later  on.  There  was  nothing  more  vital 
at  the  present  moment  than  to  continue  with  Bar- 
bara and  test  her  with  the  announcement  of  the  theft 


70  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

from  his  safe  of  her  shoes.  Should  that,  he  deter- 
mined, have  no  effect,  he  would  next  inform  her  of 
the  ruby  and  all  its  possession  implied. 

He  returned  to  the  room,  and  found  it  empty.  A 
door  that  led  to  a  room  beyond  was  standing  open. 
The  paper  he  had  flung  upon  the  couch  lay  spread 
in  the  center  of  the  floor. 

He  was  certain  Miss  Lee  would  return  at  once,  but 
after  a  minute  of  waiting  in  vain  he  went  to  the  open 
door,  gave  a  knock,  and  peered  within,  to  find  the 
apartment  deserted. 

Someone  was  coming  down  the  stairs  from  the 
floor  above.  He  went  to  the  hall.  It  was  Mrs. 
Loomis.  She  had  neither  seen  nor  heard  the  girl 
since  glancing  in  at  the  door. 

Five  minutes  of  thorough  searching  disclosed  the 
fact  she  was  not  within  the  house.  Mrs.  Loomis  even 
ran  to  the  door  that  led  to  the  street,  but  was  dis- 
appointed there. 

Barbara  had  vanished.  She  had  evidently  taken 
one  brief  glance  at  the  paper's  account  of  the  ruby 
crime  and  instantly  fled  the  scene. 

"  Why,  she  can't  be  far,"  said  Mrs.  Loomis, 
calmly.  "  She  went  out  last  night  to  the  drug 
store  and  was  back  in  twenty  minutes." 

"  What !  "  said  Vail.  "  She  went  out  last  night- 
while  she  was  lame  ?  " 

"  Oh,  her  foot  was  better  right  away,"  said  the 
unsuspicious  Mrs.  Loomis.  "  But,  now  that  I  think 
of  it,  I  certainly  believe  I  heard  a  whistle  last  night 
and  this  morning,  a  sort  of  a  Bob-white  whistle — 


BAFFLING  ANSWERS  AND  A  FLIGHT    71 

and  I  was  almost  sure  she  came  back  last  night  with 
a  man." 

Vail  felt  a  sinking  at  his  vitals.  To  remain  in  the 
house  another  minute  seemed  more  than  he  could 
endure. 

"  Oh,  well,  then — that's  all  right,"  he  said,  as  if 
the  affair  were  one  of  preconceived  arrangement. 
"  I'll  hustle  along  myself." 

But  when  he  was  out  in  the  sunlight,  mechanically 
heading  for  his  office,  he  paused  to  look  at  a  hun- 
dred passing  beings,  as  if  to  demand  of  any  busied 
stranger  if  he  had  seen  Miss  Barbara  Lee  that  way, 
and  noted  where  she  had  gone. 


CHAPTER  IX 

THE    HOUSE    OF    CRIME 

WHEN  he  finally  returned  to  his  office,  Vail 
discovered   that   Garrison   had   barely   that 
moment  arrived. 

Garrison  had  never  appeared  more  keen  or  eagerly 
absorbed  in  the  science  to  which  he  was  devoted. 
Like  Vail  he  was  young,  smooth-shaven,  athletically 
constructed,  and  exceptionally  equipped  with  brains 
and  courage. 

Indeed,  they  made  a  striking  pair  of  clean-cut 
men  of  the  hour,  each  exemplifying  strength,  re- 
sourcefulness, and  honor  in  an  unusual  degree.  As 
they  faced  each  other  now  across  the  desk,  with  the 
tall  brass  cartridge-shell  between  them,  they  assumed 
relations  entirely  different  from  anything  heretofore 
developed  since  their  social  encounter  abroad. 

Vail  rehearsed  his  story  briefly  and  clearly — ex- 
cept where  it  touched  upon  the  ruby.  Concerning 
the  shoe  with  the  hollowed  heel,  the  gem,  and  later 
mysteries  he  could  not  bring  himself  to  speak,  in  his 
conflict  of  doubts  and  hopes. 

Garrison  nodded  from  time  to  time,  and  asked  a 
number  of  questions.  He  arose  at  last,  and  going 
to  the  empty  box,  still  leaning  against  the  wall,  ex- 
amined it  briefly  but  minutely. 

72 


THE  HOUSE  OF  CRIME  73 

"  My  position  in  this  matter  is  peculiar,"  he  pres- 
ently observed,  returning  to  his  chair.  "  Miss 
Puryn,  having  first  requested  my  services,  disarms 
me  in  one  direction,  while  you,  in  accepting  me  now 
on  the  case,  embarrass  me  in  the  other." 

Vail  looked  at  him  quickly. 

"  Just  precisely  what  does  that  mean  ?  " 

Garrison  smiled. 

"  We  may  as  well  be  frank.  To  be  quite  candid, 
it  appeared  to  me  Miss  Puryn  possibly  wished  me  to 
gather  an  impression  that  you  might  have  had  this 
birthday  '  present '  delivered  to  yourself.  I  may  be 
mistaken,  of  course." 

"  I  see,"  said  Julian.  "  And  now  it  perhaps  oc- 
curs to  you  that  it's  just  the  other  way  about,  and 
Miss  Puryn  herself  may  have  had  a  hand  in  the 
matter?  " 

"  You  jump  at  swift  conclusions,"  Garrison 
laughed.  "  I  have  formed  no  actual  theories.  This 
has  been  an  expensive  business,  preparing  and  de- 
livering your  '  Gift  of  the  Gods.'  Someone  with  an 
exceptionally  powerful  motive  must  have  been  be- 
hind the  adventure. — Gardner  might  possess  such  a 
motive.  You  are  engaged  to  the  lady,  and  you  own 
the  road  he  has  sworn  he'd  make  his  own.  He  called 
here  suspiciously  soon.  Still  that  may  signify  noth- 
ing. I  am  merely  groping  for  the  motive — and  the 
person  or  persons  who  would  benefit  most  by  your  em- 
barrassment or  even  your  business  disorganization." 

Julian  nodded.  He  had  formulated  all  these 
thoughts  for  himself,  in  nearly  this  logical  sequence. 


74  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

"  You  have  methods  of  ferreting  out  this  sort 
of  thing,"  he  said.  "  Perhaps  you'd  not  mind  telling 
me  the  first  thing  you  shall  do  ?  " 

"  Discover,  if  possible,  who  made  this  box,  and  by 
whose  orders;  inquire  concerning  Miss  Lee  and  her 
father  in  Hartford;  interview  the  young  lady  her- 
self, and  get  a  line " 

"  Miss  Lee  has  gone  out  this  morning,  and  left 
no  word  as  to  where  she  would  be,  or  when  she  might 
return." 

"  That's  all  right,"  said  Garrison,  "  unless  she  has 
run  away ;"  and  he  smiled.  "  In  that  event  we'll 
have  to  find  her.  It's  important  to  know  whether  or 
not  she  consented  to  the  plan,  or  was  a  victim.  Mean- 
time we  have  all  we  can  handle  for  a  day  or 
two,  though  I  shall  put  a  number  of  men  at 
work  and  I  may  have  something  to  report 
before " 

The  'phone  bell  interrupted.  Vail  took  the  instru- 
ment in  hand. 

"Hullo!"  he  said.  "Hullo.  Yes,  this  is  ... 
Oh,  how  are  you,  Faxon?  .  .  .  Yes,  he's  here — 

just "  He  turned  to  the  criminologist,  giving 

him  the  instrument.  "  This  is  for  you,  Mr.  Garrison 
— Chief  of  Police  on  the  wire." 

Garrison  leaned  far  back  in  his  chair  and  applied 
the  receiver  to  his  ear. 

"Hello!"  he  said.  "How  are  you,  Chief?  .  .  ., 
No,  there's  nothing  I  wish  to  report  this  morning. 
.  .  .  No  trace  of  the  ruby  or  other  stones  up  to 
date.  I  felt  very  sure  .  .  .  Yes,  I'm  going  up  there 


THE  HOUSE  OF  CRIME  75 

now.  I  prefer  to  examine  the  house  alone.  t.,  ..  :., 
If  you  want  me  to  work  on  this  case,  old  man,  keep 
everybody  off  except  the  men  for  whom  I  made  a 
requisition.  I  can't  make  good  in  any  other  way. 
.  .  .  Yes,  I'll  let  you  know  the  minute  I  get  a 
line.  .  .  .  I'll  call  you  up  at  four  this  afternoon. 
..  .  .  Good-by." 

Vail  was  regarding  him  fixedly  as  he  returned  the 
stand  to  the  desk. 

"  You've  been  engaged  on  this  Gatama  ruby  case 
— the  robbery  and  murder?  " 

"  By  luck,  good  or  ill,  I  have."  Garrison  arose 
from  his  chair.  "  I'm  due  at  the  scene  of  it  now, 
before  the  regular  force  of  blunderers  succeeds  in 
obliterating  every  possible  clew.  I  shall  not  neglect 
your  little  affair,  however,  and  may  have  some 
news " 

"  I'd  like  to  go  along,"  Vail  interrupted.  "  I 
mean  to  the  house  where  the  murder  was  committed. 
Should  I  be  very  much  in  the  way  ?  I've  a  very  par- 
ticular reason I  mean  perhaps  I  might  be  able 

to  help I've  got  a  notion  it's  a  house  where  I 

was  once  a  guest.  If  it  is Anyway,  Mr.  Gar- 
rison, I'd  like,  if  possible,  to  go." 

Garrison  looked  at  him  sharply. 

"  I  should  be  glad  to  have  you  along." 

Julian  rose  at  the  second  when,  with  a  knock  on 
the  door,  Broughton  came  in  with  a  telegram,  only 
that  moment  delivered.  Hoping  for  a  moment  that 
it  might  be  a  line  from  Barbara,  Vail  tore  it  roughly 
open. 


76  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

It  came  from  Iris  Puryn. 

"  I  trust  in  new  excitement  you  have  not  forgotten 
Comity  Ball  to-night,  and  obligation.  Please  reply." 

Vail  had,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  entirely  forgotten 
the  ball  to  which  he  and  his  fiancee  were  committed. 
He  handed  the  message  to  Broughton. 

"  Answer  for  me,  '  All  right.'  And  I  wish  you'd 
make  up  a  statement,  Broughton,  of  all  the  outstand- 
ing shares  of  B.  &  K.  C.,  with  the  names  of  those 
who  hold  them,  even  to  the  smallest  blocks,  and  place 
it  on  my  desk." 

He  and  Garrison  were  presently  emerging  from 
the  building  together.  They  boarded  a  hired  auto- 
mobile the  criminologist  had  kept  in  waiting  at  the 
curb.  It  turned  to  the  north,  up  the  Avenue,  swung 
in  behind  the  tall,  gray  Flatiron  building  at  Twenty- 
second  Street,  and  thence,  by  Broadway  and  Twenty- 
third  Street,  skirted  Madison  Square,  hummed  be- 
neath the  shadow  of  the  mighty  Metropolitan  tower, 
and  on  past  the  much-beloved  Madison  Square  Gar- 
den, avoiding  the  traffic  further  to  the  west  and 
making  good  time  to  their  goal. 

Time  was  when  the  neighborhood  between  Twenty- 
third  and  Forty-second  streets,  to  the  east  of  Madi- 
son Avenue,  was  one  of  Gotham's  splendor.  To-day 
the  remnants  of  the  grandeur  still  remain,  while  en- 
croachments of  the  city's  less  aesthetic  classes  render 
much  of  the  region  a  field  of  violent  contrasts  and 
glaring  incongruities. 

The  particular  street  where  the  crime  had  been 
committed  was  surprisingly  lifeless  this  morning. 


THE  HOUSE  OF  CRIME  77 

Fully  half  a  dozen  old-time  houses,  inhospitable  and 
uniform  in  their  brown-stone  fronts,  were  boarded 
up  and  closed.  It  was  one  of  these  to  which  the 
murdered  man  had  been  lured  for  his  life  and  his 
gems. 

Garrison's  car  was  halted  in  front  of  the  door. 
The  chauffeur  was  instructed  to  wait.  The  crimi- 
nologist  had  a  key  to  which  the  scarred  old  barrier 
yielded,  and  he  and  Julian  entered  where  their  foot- 
steps echoed  through  the  empty  halls,  while  the 
smell  of  old  dust  filled  their  nostrils. 

"  Here's  a  little  electric  torch,"  said  Garrison, 
tendering  Julian  the  useful  implement,  "  for  some  of 
the  rooms  are  dark,  though  we've  opened  up  many  of 
the  windows.  Shall  you  mind  conducting  your  ex- 
plorations independently  of  me  ?  " 

"Not  at  all,"  said  Vail.  "I  trust  you'll  not 
permit  me  to  interfere  with  your  work  in  the 
least." 

He  was  shown  the  room  where  the  body  was  found, 
and  then  the  apartment,  one  flight  up,  where  a  for- 
mer drawing-room  had  been  made  almost  habitable 
in  spite  of  the  dust  and  disorder. 

Some  manner  of  hope — or  fear — rather  vague  and 
indistinct,  that  Barbara's  trunk  might  be  found  upon 
the  premises  had  prompted  Vail's  visit  to  the  place. 
He  was  particularly  grateful  for  Garrison's  hint 
that  he  wander  through  the  house  alone. 

In  one  old  chamber  there  were  trunks  of  all  ages 
and  sizes.  They  were  fairly  clothed  in  ancient  mold, 
and  were  doubtless  empty,  since  all  bore  signs  of 


78  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

recent  examination  and  one  stood  gaping  open,  as 
hollow  as  a  well. 

It  was  rather  a  melancholy  and  unprofitable  busi- 
ness, after  all,  this  quest  that  had  brought  him  to 
the  scene.  Up  to  the  garret  Julian  climbed,  while 
Garrison  studied  that  living-room  with  concentrated 
particularity.  Then  the  cellar  alone  remained  unex- 
plored, and  to  it  Vail  descended. 

It,  too,  had  been  searched  before,  the  coal-bin, 
laundry,  and  the  former  vaults  for  wine  bearing 
dusty  indications  of  recent  visitors. 

There  were  still  a  number  of  shelves  for  bottles,  an 
empty  cask,  and  countless  hoops  and  staves  upon  the 
floor,  in  the  place  where  the  wines  had  one  time  been, 
while  all  about  the  cavern-like  place  rough  panels 
finished  the  walls.  One  loosely  hooped  keg  reposed 
on  a  rack  above  the  ordinary  shelves.  The  place  was 
dimly  lighted  by  the  merest  iron-barred  square  of 
glass,  set  high  above  the  floor  and  frosted  by  ancient 
cobwebs. 

Vail  entered,  and  a  huge,  gray  rat  leaped  fairly 
from  beneath  his  feet,  to  run  in  confusion  against 
his  leg  and  scamper  away  in  the  shadows.  Involun- 
tarily the  man  stepped  back.  His  foot  came  down 
on  an  iron  hoop  that  flipped  up  and  struck  him  on 
the  shin. 

He  floundered  over  against  the  rack,  and  there, 
with  a  clatter  of  dry  old  staves,  the  keg  abruptly 
fell  apart,  one  of  its  oaken  units  striking  Julian  a 
violent  blow  in  the  face.  He  reeled  heavily,  and  col- 
lided, as  he  thought,  with  the  paneled  wall,  but  felt 


THE  HOUSE  OF  CRIME  79 

something  give  to  his  weight  and  then  plunged, 
stumbling  headlong,  into  cold  and  Stygian  darkness. 

He  struck  at  last  on  his  head,  sprawled  on  some 
dusty  floor.  His  torch  was  shattered.  He  lay  there, 
partially  stunned  for  a  moment,  and,  when  he  arose, 
groped  blindly  and  dazedly  about  in  the  velvet-like 
gloom,  meeting  with  nothing  but  solid  walls  wherever 
his  hands  explored. 

He  realized  at  once  he  must  have  found  some  sec- 
ond chamber  of  the  cellar,  into  which,  as  he  sought 
to  regain  his  balance,  he  must  have  pitched  for  sev- 
eral yards.  Ashamed  to  shout  for  Garrison,  and 
aware  he  might  not  be  heard,  he  searched  in  his 
pockets  for  a  match,  discovered  he  had  not  so  much 
as  a  single  one,  and  began  to  feel  his  way  along  the 
wall  to  discover  the  door  where  he  had  entered. 

He  groped  thus  uncertainly  for  a  distance  he  was 
sure  should  fetch  him  to  the  entrance  leading  to  the 
old-time  winery,  in  vain.  In  a  rapidly  increasing 
fever  of  impatience,  he  hastened  onward,  feeling  now 
with  feet  as  well  as  hands,  where  never  the  slightest 
ray  of  light  was  admitted  to  penetrate  the  absolute 
darkness  of  the  place. 

He  presently  feared  he  was  moving  about  in  a 
circle — that  the  chamber  must  have  been  built  with- 
out a  corner,  and  the  door  he  sought  be  too  much 
like  the  rough-board  finish  of  the  hole  for  his  hands 
to  discover  the  exit. 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  he  had  passed  the  door  and 
a  corner  that  slanted  from  the  opening  to  a  long 
narrow  passageway  beyond.  He  was  moving  away 


80  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

from  the  winery  now,  in  his  effort  to  come  upon  some 
lock  or  hinge  that  would  indicate  the  spring-closed 
opening  on  which  he  had  fallen  by  chance. 

He  had  made  his  way  fully  fifty  feet  from  the 
place  of  his  accident  when  at  length  he  heard  a 
muffled  sound.  It  was  off  to  his  left,  which  convinced 
him  he  had  moved  in  a  circle.  That  Garrison  had 
heard  the  disturbance  made  when  the  keg  was  shat- 
tered, and  that  he  was  coming  to  assist  him,  he  was 
more  than  merely  hopeful.  Moving  ahead  more 
rapidly,  in  the  direction  indicated  by  the  distant 
sound,  he  traversed  several  additional  rods  of  the 
passage — and  paused  abruptly  as  his  foot  collided 
with  something  solid  in  his  path. 

He  stooped  to  feel  of  this  obstruction.  It  proved 
to  be  a  step.  Above  it  was  another — and  a  third. 
He  recognized  it  with  something  like  a  shocked  sur- 
prise as  a  staircase,  winding  spirally  up  from  the 
floor.  Confused  to  the  last  degree,  thus  to  discover 
he  had  wandered,  heaven  alone  knew  how  far,  from 
the  cellar  where  Garrison  might  have  sought  him,  he 
surrendered  all  hope  of  retracing  his  steps,  and  wel- 
comed the  stairs  as  a  means  of  deliverance  that  great 
good  fortune  had  provided. 

He  began  to  climb  at  once,  halting  from  time  to 
time  to  wave  his  hand  above  his  head  for  fear  of 
striking  a  ceiling.  He  hardly  expected  to  ascend 
for  more  than  a  dozen  feet  and  emerge  perhaps  in 
a  kitchen.  But  the  stairs  went  up  with  no  apparent 
end,  till  fully  the  height  of  two  ordinary  flights 
were  passed,  and  still  he  found  no  end. 


THE  HOUSE  OF  CRIME  81 

When  he  came  at  last  to  the  landing  at  the  top, 
he  was  walled  about  completely,  in  a  well  as  black 
as  ink.  Then,  as  his  hands  moved  here  and  there, 
searching  for  anything  that  might  suggest  a  break 
in  this  cid-de-sac,  he  struck  a  little  lock  at  last  and 
tugged  and  rattled  at  the  door. 

He  could  slip  the  catch,  yet  the  door  appeared  to 
be  immovable.  He  worked  at  the  thing  impatiently. 
He  called,  but  heard  no  sound.  Yet  Garrison,  he 
thought,  must  be  not  far  away. 

At  length,  as  one  result  of  his  shaking  at  the  bar- 
rier, a  tiny  crack  of  daylight  appeared  along  its 
jamb.  With  a  sudden  devination  of  his  error,  he  gave 
the  thing  a  sideways  push,  and  the  door  slid  back 
with  ease. 

He  stepped  at  once  into  a  dimly  lighted  room — 
and  the  door,  by  which  he  had  escaped,  glided  back 
through  some  application  of  his  weight  to  the  boards 
of  the  floor.  It  became  the  merest  panel,  in  a  wain- 
scoted room,  and  not  even  Vail,  in  his  astonished 
scrutiny,  could  detect  a  sign  of  its  existence. 

He  faced  about.  The  room  was  one  he  had  never 
seen  before.  He  still  retained  the  impression  he  was 
under  that  self-same  roof  where  Garrison  had  bid 
him  explore  by  himself.  He  knew  he  had  made  a 
discovery  that  might  prove  of  great  significance. 

"  Hey,  there — Garrison !  "  he  called,  and  started 
for  an  open  door  that  led  to  apartments  beyond. 

Below  he  heard  a  door  firmly  slam,  and  was  sure 
it  was  Garrison,  going.  He  ran  from  the  room,  then 
through  a  hall,  and  was  darting  past  a  lofty  cham- 


82  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

her  when  suddenly  something  in  his  heart  stood  still 
and  his  brain  got  a  jolt  of  surprise. 

The  chamber. was  a  room  of  iron  men! 

His  vision  comprehended  the  picture  of  six  or 
more  full-sized  figures  in  armor,  solemnly  arrayed 
against  the  wall,  like  steel-clad  guards  of  a  tomb. 

It  was  Barbara's  room — but  what  did  it  mean — 
with  that  passage  that  led 

There  was  someone  on  the  stairs! 

"  Garrison !  Garrison !  "  he  shouted  suddenly, 
running  onward  as  before. 

But  a  curse  and  a  stifled  cry  responded  from  be- 
low, then  sounds  of  a  sudden  retreat. 

He  reached  the  head  of  the  stairs,  looked  down — 
and  was  speechless  with  what  he  saw. 

It  was  Barbara,  staring  wildly  up,  as  she  turned 
in  the  arms  of  a  man.  Then  man  and  girl  plunged 
madly  down  to  the  hall  below,  while  a  muffled  cry 
startled  the  silence. 

Vail  descended  the  groaning  staircase  two  and 
three  steps  at  a  leap.  The  outside  door  was  slammed 
when  he  was  halfway  down  the  flight. 

He  was  there  in  a  moment,  but  the  lock  had  snapped 
and  he  fumbled  and  raged  to  get  it  open. 

At  length  he  wrenched  it  backward  and  was  out — 
in  time  to  see  Barbara  hurled  inside  a  limousine  car 
at  the  door,  and  the  man  leap  in  beside  her. 

Vail  yelled  at  the  driver  and  ran  to  head  him  off, 
but  the  fellow  was  coasting  down  the  slope  and  he 
dropped  in  his  clutch  and  shifted  his  gears  with 
expert  alacrity. 


THE  HOUSE  OF  CRIME  83 

With  Vail  still  chasing  at  the  wheel,  a  dusty,  wild 
figure  of  activity,  the  big  machine  leaped  madly  on 
its  course  and  presently  shot  around  the  corner. 
Racing  full-speed  for  Garrison's  car,  Julian  flung 
himself  in  beside  the  waiting  chauffeur  and  shoved 
up  his  throttle  and  spark. 

"  Catch  him !  Catch  that  car !  "  he  cried.  "  Don't 
let  him  get  out  of  your  sight ! " 


CHAPTER  X 

A   EACE   IN    THE    STREETS 

THE  astonished  driver  responded  mechanically, 
without  the  snap  or  ginger  that  interest  might 
have  supplied. 

His  car  was  started  with  a  jerk  and  picked  up 
its  speed  too  slowly.  He  turned  his  questioning 
eyes  on  Vail  with  some  half-formed  doubt  in  his 
mind. 

"  Speed  up !  Speed  up ! "  cried  Julian,  des- 
perately. "  Get  going,  man,  or  you'll  lose  them  in 
a  block !  Catch  them !  Never  mind  the  law !  I'll 
pay  the  fines  if  we're  arrested ! " 

Down  the  slight  declivity  they  bumped  and  rat- 
tled hotly,  the  dull  chauffeur  aroused  by  this  to  ex- 
hibit his  prowess  at  the  wheel. 

Down  into  Lexington  Avenue  and  around  the  cor- 
ner they  whipped  like  the  fragment  of  a  comet  round- 
ing the  curve  of  its  orbit.  They  were  barely  in  time 
to  see  the  limousine  ahead  skid  recklessly  about  the 
corner  below,  careening  onward  towards  busy,  con- 
gested Third  Avenue,  further  to  the  east,  with  its 
car-lines,  its  posts  of  the  elevated  structure,  and  its 
swarming  population  to  complicate  the  race. 

There  was  nothing  by  then  to  be  seen  of  Barbara 
84 


A  RACE  IN  THE  STREETS  85 

or  her  companion,  in  the  glimpse  vouchsafed  of  the 
car.  But  at  least  they  were  not  far  ahead. 

The  big  machine  that  Vail  had  seized  now  delivered 
a  deafening  roar  where  its  muffler  cut-out  was 
opened.  It  appeared  to  leap  in  exultation  in  its  lib- 
erated power. 

A  man  with  an  armful  of  parcels  started  to  cross 
its  deadly  path,  but  was  mercifully  halted  in  time. 
He  danced  an  eccentric  fandango  that  scattered  his 
bundles  far  and  wide,  then  fled  to  the  safety  of  the 
curb. 

The  corner  was  reached  not  a  second  too  soon. 
The  car  ahead,  with  luck  all  its  way,  had  found 
Third  Avenue  almost  clear  for  its  swing  to  the  down- 
town tracks.  It,  too,  was  belching  a  gatling's  de- 
tonations and  a  blinding  cloud  of  fume. 

Half  a  minute  later  Vail  and  his  man  were  like- 
wise in  the  Avenue,  shooting  madly  down  the  gleam- 
ing rails,  in  the  wake  of  the  limousine.  Yells,  curses, 
and  even  a  cheer  arose  from  the  scattering  pedes- 
trians of  the  street  who  beheld  the  fury  of  the  race. 

Straight  on,  through  the  double  peristyle  of  iron 
pillars,  past  crosstown  streets  pouring  in  their  traf- 
fic, and  heading  for  a  huge  yellow  surface  car  ahead, 
the  two  mighty  engines  of  speed  and  steel  were 
hurtling  with  increasing  velocity. 

The  fellow  ahead  was  a  demon.  He  fairly  jumped 
the  rails  at  last,  to  dart  with  consummate  skill  about 
the  car  and  drive  like  a  monster  projectile  through 
a  narrow  space  between  the  iron  pillars  and  a  loaded 
wagon,  standing  near  the  curb. 


86  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

Julian  groaned.  He  saw  the  traffic  closing  there, 
where  the  limousine  had  passed.  The  car  beneath 
him  snarled  like  an  angry  beast  as  it  cringed  to  the 
biting  of  the  brake. 

But,  like  a  hollow  in  the  fog,  the  wagons  and 
people  melted  away,  uncovering  an  opening  into 
which  they  drove  the  wind-splitting  front  of  the 
motor.  Once  more  they  beheld  the  machine  that  led 
the  chase.  It  had  gained  perceptibly,  and  was  going 
like  some  crazed  ambassador  of  a  cyclone,  clearing 
its  path  by  the  terror  it  inspired. 

It  flung  itself  unscathed  through  the  crosstown 
ebb  and  flow  of  trolleys,  trucks,  cabs,  and  automo- 
biles at  Thirty-fourth  Street,  and  was  swallowed 
from  sight  almost  immediately  after  the  streams  that 
flow  in  both  directions  resumed  their  interrupted 
surge. 

Down  on  this  living  wall  of  human  beings,  horses, 
and  vehicles  Julian's  driver  swept — to  meet  defeat. 
The  barrier  of  life  was  more  impassable  than  one  of 
roaring  flame.  At  its  very  edge  the  car  was  brought 
to  an  absolute  halt,  while  the  limousine,  now  far  be- 
yond, trailed  its  woof  of  smoke  and  terror  through 
the  warp  of  streets  and  men  like  a  shuttle  of  fate 
that  blindly  moves,  regardless  of  the  pattern  left 
behind. 

It  seemed  an  age  before  the  way  through  the 
crosstown  stream  was  opened.  The  driver  then,  at 
Julian's  urging,  sped  as  before  down  the  Avenue, 
hoping  to  recover  lost  ground. 

Vail  was  certain  he  could  yet  discern  the  machine 


A  RACE  IN  THE  STREETS  87 

he  must  overtake.  But  a  street-car'a  bulk,  more 
crossing  trucks,  and  moving  masses  of  humanity,  ob- 
structed and  confused  the  vista  down  the  two  long 
rows  of  pillars,  and  nothing  was  definite  beyond. 

More  yells,  the  cries  of  a  baffled  and  useless  police- 
man, and  staring  crowds  lent  incidents  that  rapidly 
sped  rearward  in  the  flight,  and  Julian  urged  more 
speed.  Then,  when  at  length  a  clearer  opening  was 
once  more  made  ahead,  he  found  himself  staring  at 
empty  tracks  and  road,  with  never  a  sign  of  the 
limousine,  which  he  knew  must  have  turned  aside  at 
last  and  escaped  to  a  crosstown  street. 

There  was  nothing  to  do  save  drive  ahead  and 
scrutinize  the  thoroughfares  they  passed,  in  a  feeble 
hope  of  catching  sight  of  the  vanished  car  with  the 
girl.  There  was,  however,  absolutely  no  means  in 
the  world  of  ascertaining  whether  the  fellow  with 
Barbara  had  turned  to  the  right  or  left.  And,  be- 
fore they  came  to  Twenty-third  Street,  Julian  ac- 
knowledged defeat. 

Not  another  sign  of  the  car  had  they  seen — and 
he  knew  they  never  should.  Impatiently  and  dis- 
gustedly, pausing  at  last  to  wonder  what  it  meant 
thus  to  find  Miss  Lee  and  her  abductor  in  the  house 
of  iron  men,  Vail  reluctantly  ordered  the  driver  to 
face  about  and  return  where  Garrison  was  working. 

They  crossed  into  Lexington  Avenue,  thereby 
avoiding  the  belated  pursuit  of  a  mounted  officer, 
and  arrived  in  good  season  before  the  house  of  crime. 
But  Garrison  had  gone.  There  was  no  response 
to  Julian's  knocking  on  the  door,  and  at  last  he 


88  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

turned  away  to  be  driven  once  more  to  his  office.  He 
had  ample  time  for  careful  thinking  of  all  he  had 
discovered  and  how  much  it  were  wise  to  reveal. 

He  did  not,  however,  hesitate  to  telephone  Gar- 
rison's office.  Some  clerk  in  charge  replied,  inform- 
ing him  Garrison  had  not  returned  and  could  not 
be  found  by  the  wire.  Then  at  length  Vail  took  a 
brush  from  a  drawer  and  removed  the  dust  from  his 
clothing. 

When  he  finally  sat  once  more  at  his  desk,  facing 
the  tall  brass  vase  that  held  the  ruby,  he  was  far 
more  at  sea  than  ever  before,  and  far  more  obsessed 
by  doubts. 

Barbara's  disappearance  of  the  morning  and  the 
sight  of  her  there  in  the  house  to  which  a  secret 
passage  led  from  a  scene  of  murder,  as  foul  as  ever 
a  crime  could  be,  seemed  more  than  all  his  logic  could 
explain  away,  despite  her  cry  upon  the  stairs,  which 
had  seemed  like  a  call  for  help. 

Yet  to  that  cry  he  clung  with  a  stubbornness  in- 
credible. If  she  had  not  gone  to  the  premises  vol- 
untarily, if  even  now  she  were  held  a  captive,  looking 
to  himself  for  her  deliverance,  what  a  wholly  differ- 
ent aspect  the  entire  affair  would  assume !  But  had 
she  cried  to  him  for  assistance,  or  merely  in  fright 
at  seeing  him  there,  where  no  one  could  have  been 
expected?  He  was  greatly  annoyed  that  he  had  not 
seen  the  face  of  the  man  she  was  with.  He  only  knew 
the  fellow  was  large  and  his  hair  was  fiery  red. 

He  felt  the  need  of  help — but  where  should  aid 
be  found?  How  could  he  share  the  blackest  of  his 


A  RACE  IN  THE  STREETS  89 

suspicions  with  Garrison — relate  all  he  knew  of  the 
ruby  and  what  had  happened  since?  No  one  save 
himself  could  conceive  or  entertain  a  hope  of  Bar- 
bara's innocence — and  no  one  else  would  greatly 
care. 

The  ways  of  love  are  strange,  mad  ways — and  the 
love  that  had  come  unbidden  to  his  heart  was  the 
strongest,  blindest  emotion  that  Vail  had  ever  under- 
gone. It  refused  to  be  shaken  or  to  die.  It  con- 
jured new  hopes  where  logic  shrank  abashed,  and 
would  not  let  them  go.  It  hungered  for  Barbara, 
championed  her  honor,  fretted  his  soul  with  impa- 
tience, and  suffered  acutely  for  his  doubts. 

A  thousand  times  he  wondered  where  she  was,  and 
a  thousand  times  he  questioned  what  it  was  she  was 
hiding  from  his  ken.  It  seemed  impossible  her  male 
companion  could  have  dragged  her  unwillingly  into 
the  house  where  he  had  met  them  on  the  stairs — in 
the  glaring  light  of  day. 

That  the  house  was  the  same  she  had  previously 
described  there  could  be  not  a  shadow  of  doubt.  The 
room  containing  the  armor  was  unmistakable.  More- 
over, it  could  scarcely  be  duplicated  in  a  hundred 
years,  in  Greater  New  York. 

What  was  the  sinister  relation  between  the  girl  and 
the  crime  worked  out  so  short  a  space  away?  He 
dimly  recalled  that  on  his  hasty  exit  from  the  place 
he  had  noted  that  the  house  of  iron  men  stood  three 
or  four  doors  removed  from  the  one  where  the  body 
had  been  found.  The  secret  passage  must,  therefore, 
be  fully  a  hundred  feet  long — an  older-day  tunnel 


90  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

connecting  the  houses  for  uses  that  would  never  be 
divulged. 

He  wondered  who  owned  the  tenantless  house  where 
the  men  of  iron  stood.  He  wondered  also  if  Garri- 
son had  found  that  passageway,  with  the  panels 
at  either  end.  What  had  the  criminologist  thought 
when  he  found  his  car  and  companion  vanished  from 
the  scene? 

Vail  got  up  and  paced  the  floor.  He  needed  Gar- 
rison. He  likewise  felt  he  must  inform  him,  at  least, 
of  what  he  had  found  and  done.  He  fretted  there 
for  an  hour,  calling  the  detective's  office  repeatedly, 
to  no  avail.  He  telephoned  Mrs.  Loomis  no  less 
often,  always  to  learn  that  Barbara  had  not  returned. 

He  ate  no  lunch.  The  afternoon  was  consumed 
with  business  of  the  B.  &  K.  C.  R.  R.,  which  Gard- 
ner was  viciously  attacking.  No  news  developed 
either  of  Barbara  or  Garrison.  The  day  was  a  long 
and  futile  session  of  impatience.  Darkness  brought 
no  change.  And  at  last  he  once  more  remembered  the 
Comity  Ball  to  which  Iris  expected  to  be  taken. 


CHAPTER  XI 

THE    COMITY   BAIX 

WITH  a  feeling  that  was  anything  save  fes- 
tive or  gay,  Vail  ascended  the  stairs  at  the 
gorgeous  Puryn  mansion  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  even- 
ing. At  the  final  minute  he  had  sent  a  box  of  flow- 
ers, for  the  first  time  forgotten  in  more  than  a  year 
that  he  had  paid  his  court  to  Iris. 

He  was  somewhat  abashed  at  the  thought  of  his 
neglect,  so  tardily  corrected.  The  feeling  he  had 
undergone  in  sending  these  roses  to  Iris  was  in 
startling  contrast  with  the  emotions  experienced  at 
buying  American  beauties  for  Barbara,  despite  the 
protest  of  duty. 

His  longing  for  Barbara  was  not  to  be  dimin- 
ished ;  the  dread  of  his  spirit  at  thought  of  an  even- 
ing at  the  ball  with  Iris  at  his  side  was  not  to  be 
escaped. 

Then  presently,  while  he  waited  in  the  golden 
reception-room  adjoining  Iris's  suite,  surprise  num- 
ber one  of  the  evening  came  to  pass.  One  of  the 
servants  entered  to  announce  that  his  fiancee  had 
been  taken  ill,  within  the  last  few  minutes,  and  might 
be  unable  to  go. 

Vail  was  genuinely  sympathetic.  He  was  doubly 
distressed  to  think  his  attitude  had  been  impatient 

91 


92  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

and  cold,  and  that  possibly  a  nervous  complication 
had  arisen  out  of  this  mysterious  affair  to  assist  in 
making  Iris  ill. 

In  the  midst  of  his  uncertainty  Enid  appeared, 
to  alter  the  aspect  of  the  evening. 

"  Oh,  Julian,"  she  said,  "  I  never  was  in  such  a 
quandary.  Iris  seems  far  too  ill  to  leave  the  house. 
She  declares  it  is  nothing  serious,  and  I  suppose  she 
knows.  But  she  cannot  think  of  going  to  the  ball, 
and  insists  I  shall  take  her  place.  I've  protested  that 
such  an  arrangement  might  not  be  in  the  least  ac- 
ceptable to  you — that  you  would  never  have  asked 
me  to  accept  such  an  honor,  and  that  you  are  certain 
to  be  chagrined  and  embarrassed  by  any  such  pro- 
posal, but " 

"  Not  at  all,"  interrupted  Julian,  far  more  indif- 
ferent to  the  change  of  programme  than  he  would 
have  dared  confess.  "  If  that  is  her  wish,  and  you 
consent,  I  am  sure  I  am  quite  at  your  service." 

"  How  kind  you  always  are ! "  said  Enid,  flushing 
with  delight.  She  met  his  gaze  with  inscrutable  eyes 
that  awoke  some  surprise  in  his  nature.  "  If  I  could 

only  be  sure  it's  not  your  mere  polite But  why 

should  beggars  be  choosers? "  And  she  laughed, 
with  the  color  still  glowing  in  her  cheeks.  "  Shall 
I  tell  her,  then,  her  suggestion  is  accepted?" 

"  If  you  please,"  said  Vail,  still  puzzled  by  Enid's 
newest  phase  and  the  look  he  had  discovered  in  her 
glance.  "  And  express  my  genuine  and  heartfelt  re- 
gret to  Iris  that  she  is  indisposed.  I  trust  she  will 
speedily  recover.  If  there  is  anything  in  the  world 


THE  COMITY  BALL  93 

that  I  can  do,  pray  let  me  know.  If  she  prefers  to 
have  me  remain — if  she  can  see  me " 

"  Oh,  no,  dear  Julian,  she  couldn't  at  all !  "  Enid 
hastened  to  state.  "  She  said  there  was  nothing  she 
cared  to  request,  except  the  plan  I've  mentioned." 

"  Very  well,"  said  Vail.  "  We  will  go  whenever 
you  wish." 

Enid  retired  for  her  final  preparations,  and  when 
she  returned  was  not  only  gowned  in  positive  splen- 
dor— but  was  wearing  some  of  his  roses. 

"  Do  you  recognize  these  ?  "  she  asked  him,  shyly. 
"  Do  you  mind  my  wearing  them  to-night?  " 

One  answer  only  was  permitted  him,  and  this  he 
murmured  carelessly,  still  struck  by  her  change  to- 
wards himself. 

His  limousine  car  was  at  the  door,  and  they  were 
driven  to  the  ball. 

This  Comity  Ball,  the  newest  and  most  original  of 
Swelldom's  creations,  was  the  brilliant  and  daring  in- 
novation of  a  woman  leader  of  the  highest  social 
set,  who  had  frequently  startled  her  pleasure-loving 
world  with  something  unusual  or  bold. 

It  was  held  at  one  of  the  huge  hotels  well  down 
Fifth  Avenue,  a  hostelry  far  famed  for  its  splendid 
appointments  and  nation-wide  popularity.  It  was,  in 
every  sense  of  the  word,  an  international  function, 
to  "  cement  the  comity  of  nations  and  acquaint  the 
representatives  thereof  with  one  another  on  a 
friendly  and  joyous  footing." 

In  accordance  with  its  purpose,  it  was  held  at 
New  York  instead  of  at  the  nation's  capital,  because 


94  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

of  the  great  burg's  highly  cosmopolitan  character. 
And  social,  if  not  diplomatic,  delegates  from  every 
considerable  monarchy,  empire,  or  republic  of  the 
world  had  been  invited  to  be  present,  costumed  wher- 
ever possible  in  distinguishing  attire. 

A  more  brilliant  ensemble  than  that  which  popu- 
lated the  wonderful  gold  and  crystal  room  may 
scarcely  be  imagined.  It  was  all  a  marvelous  kaleido- 
scope of  color,  motion,  and  refulgence.  From  the 
polished  floor,  that  flung  back  softened  reds  and 
blacks,  and  mellowed  gold  and  greens,  to  the  ceiling, 
rioting  in  iridescent  gleams  and  gold  again,  the 
entire  hall  was  magnificent. 

The  flowers  had  cost  a  fortune.  Their  wealth  of 
fragrance  was  tossed  on  every  wave  that  ripples  of 
laughter  caused  to  rise  and  billow  to  the  walls.  The 
palm-room,  the  fountain  grotto,  and  the  cool,  dark- 
ened places  provided  for  resting  and  retirement  from 
the  throng,  were  bowers  of  roses  or  of  violets,  whose 
perfumes  ravished  the  air. 

Soft  music  weaved  upon  the  atmosphere  like  waft- 
ing of  zephyrs  over  meadows.  Sparkle  and  shim- 
mer, the  twinkle  of  feet,  and  a  ceaseless  procession 
of  the  nations'  elect  became  like  subtle  intoxicants  to 
charm  and  excite  the  senses. 

It  seemed  as  if  the  whole  foreign  world  had  re- 
sponded to  the  call  for  a  brothering  of  nations. 
There  were  Russians,  Germans,  British  officers,  proud 
little  Japanese,  Turks,  Hungarians,  Dons  from 
Spain,  East  Indian  princes  in  their  wondrous  robes 
and  turbans,  men  of  the  world's  great  navies,  courtly 


THE  COMITY  BALL  95 

French  officials,  representatives  from  Sweden,  and 
strangers  from  all  corners  of  the  earth.  But  more 
than  all,  for  beauty,  color,  and  animation,  were  the 
women — the  belles  of  all  the  lands,  in  the  miracles  of 
their  adornment. 

Into  the  midst  of  this  amazing  throng  Vail  and 
Enid  Puryn  were  projected,  only  to  find  all  the 
friends  and  social  acquaintances  of  their  elected  set 
already  there  to  give  them  welcome. 

The  attendance  was,  indeed,  unprecedented.  Scores 
of  new  arrivals  swarmed  at  the  entrance  doors  be- 
low, and  presently  streamed  upon  the  floor.  A  hun- 
dred murmurs  of  surprise,  delight,  or  interest  sped 
the  rounds  from  time  to  time,  as  important  acquisi- 
tions were  added  to  the  already  brilliant  attendance. 

Despite  it  all,  however,  Vail  was  still  more  occupied 
by  thoughts  of  the  day's  affairs  than  by  anything  he 
saw.  Nevertheless,  he  danced  with  Enid  and  with 
others,  in  an  automatic  way,  and  the  current  of  pleas- 
ure steadily  rose  to  sweep  him  along  with  the  others. 

It  was  shortly  after  eleven  o'clock  when  once  again 
a  murmur  of  excitement  came  to  Julian's  ears.  Some- 
one had  come  whom  all  the  world  apparently  wished 
to  see. 

Despite  himself,  Vail  partook  of  the  curious  im- 
pulse that  surged  throughout  the  room.  Some 
woman,  young  and  surpassingly  beautiful,  had  just 
arrived,  on  the  arm  of  an  English  peer.  She  and 
her  escort  swung  in  close  to  the  eager  group  of 
which  Vail  made  a  unit. 

A  moment  afterward,  incredulous  and  rooted  to 


96  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

the  spot  by  sheer  astonishment,  he  stood  there  amaz- 
edly  staring. 

The  new  arrival  was  no  other  than  Barbara  Lee. 

The  man  on  whose  arm  she  was  resting  her  hand 
was  Sir  Hugh  Pearson,  in  the  service  of  His  Majesty, 
King  George. 

A  more  enchanting  vision  of  loveliness  and  diffi- 
dence than  Barbara  presented  could  hardly  be  imag- 
ined. She  was  color  and  charm  incarnate.  Her 
gown,  that  was  cut  decollete,  revealing  arms  and 
shoulders  of  ivory  perfection,  was  the  last  and 
daintiest  refinement  of  golden  chiffon,  over  shimmer- 
ing tissue  of  gold.  Her  feet  were  encased  in  golden 
slippers  like  slender  little  models  for  a  queen.  About 
her  neck  were  diamonds  of  the  purest  ray  and  luster. 
In  her  hair  she  wore  a  small  gold  coronet,  wrought  in 
marvelous  filigree,  that  glowed  in  the  wealth  of  its 
setting. 

Unconsciously  she  bore  herself  with  a  regal  air, 
as  wholly  unstudied  and  natural  as  that  of  a  rose 
on  its  stem.  And  yet  she  was  timid  and  as  unaware 
of  her  beauty  and  her  power  as  when  she  had  slipped 
from  her  imprisoning  case  into  Julian's  arms,  at  his 
office. 

This  much  at  least  the  man  discerned,  as  he 
watched  her  slowly  approaching.  He  felt  it  in  the 
girlish  way  she  conversed  with  the  man  at  her  side. 
Then  she  caught  his  glance,  the  color  mounted 
swiftly  to  her  face  and  neck,  and  she  moved  on  past 
like  one  directed  in  a  dream. 


CHAPTER  XII 

THE    FIRES    OF    LOVE 

HAD  Vail  seen  a  ghost  he  could  have  been  no 
more  affected.  It  was  simply  beyond  all 
credence — a  mystery  as  utterly  confusing  as  any- 
thing heretofore  developed  in  this  extraordinary 
business.  It  completely  disorganized  every  previous 
conception  he  had  formed  as  to  who  and  what  the 
girl  could  be,  shook  down  his  faith  in  her  story,  and 
made  chaos  of  matters  already  sufficiently  entangled. 

Such  a  chain  and  tissue  of  incongruities  he  could 
never  have  imagined  possible.  His  mind  refused  all 
further  effort  with  theories  or  even  conjectures.  He 
was  certain  of  one  thing  only — he  loved  her  more 
helplessly,  more  consumingly  than  ever  before,  and 
felt  that  the  world  and  all  it  contained  would  be  a 
meager  sacrifice  to  fold  her  again  in  his  arms — his 
own  priceless  gift  of  the  gods ! 

The  man  was  no  longer  fit  to  reason.  His  love 
made  all  estimate  of  Barbara's  character  impossible. 
He  was  ready  to  accept  her  in  his  heart  as  the 
world's  one  great  desire,  no  matter  what  her  connec- 
tion with  the  Gatama  ruby  crime. 

Eagerly  his  gaze  still  clung  to  her  figure  where 
she  went.  To  watch,  to  grasp  at  the  earliest  oppor- 

97 


98  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

tunity  of  being  formally  presented,  and  then  to 
touch  her  hand — to  be  near  her  again — this  was  his 
one  real  object  now,  and  all  else  faded  from  his 
mind. 

The  matter  was  not  susceptible  of  prompt  or  easy 
arrangement,  despite  the  fact  he  knew  Sir  Hugh  and 
observed  every  movement  they  made.  Barbara's 
beauty  had  magnetized  the  whole  young  male  assem- 
blage, not  to  mention  despairing  women.  She  was 
swiftly  surrounded  and  besieged,  whenever  a  halt 
made  such  attentions  possible.  Vail  was  no  more 
than  anyone  else  in  the  eager  stampede  of  men. 

Enid  was  forgotten  as  Julian  moved  from  one 
point  of  vantage  to  another.  He  was  not  aware 
of  his  neglect  till  she  finally  overtook  him  in  the 
palm-room,  to  which  he  had  gone  in  a  baffled  quest 
for  Barbara,  whom  he  had  momentarily  lost.  It 
jarred  him  back  to  realities  when  Enid  touched  him 
on  the  arm. 

"  I  feared  you  might  be  feeling  the  heat,"  she 
said,  by  way  of  explaining  his  behavior.  "  Shall  we 
not  sit  down  for  a  moment — by  ourselves?  " 

"  If  you  like,"  he  answered,  mechanically.  "  I 
fear  I'm  a  trifle  dull." 

"  Poor,  dear  Julian,"  she  murmured,  as  she  found 
her  place  beside  him  on  a  rustic  bench  where  the 
light  filtered  softly  through  the  shadows.  "  I  think 
I  can  understand  your  disappointment  in  Iris — the 
way  she  behaves  over  somebody's  harmless  joke." 

He  stared  at  her  blankly.   "  My  disappointment?  " 

"  Oh,  I  saw  it  at  once,"  she  assured  him,  sympa- 


THE  FIRES  OF  LOVE  99 

thetically.  "  I  didn't  blame  you  in  the  least.  And 

for  Iris  to  turn  to  Mr.  Gardner  now There!  I 

didn't  intend  to  betray  my  feelings — betray  her  lack 

of Forgive  me,  Julian,  for  the  great  concern 

I  feel  in  your  happiness." 

He  had  never  in  his  life  felt  more  indifferent  re- 
specting Iris  and  Gardner  than  at  this  particular 
moment.  Nevertheless,  he  aroused  to  a  slight  extent 
to  grasp  at  what  Enid  was  imparting. 

"  You  are  very  kind,"  he  told  her,  in  a  colorless 
tone  of  voice  she  did  not  understand.  "  Thank  you 
for  your  interest,  Enid,  as  well  as  your  sympathy. 
Is  Gardner  here  to-night?  " 

She  glanced  at  him  peculiarly. 

"  You  wouldn't  really  expect  to  find  him  here 
after Isn't  sudden  illness  the  most  conven- 
ient   Oh,  let's  talk  of  something  else!  You 

know  it  isn't  often  the  fates  are  so  kind  as  this — 
to  me." 

He  was  startled  by  the  look  he  found  in  her  eyes, 
that  were  fixed  unabashed  on  his  own.  He  was  dis- 
tinctly uncomfortable,  more  especially  as  the  hints  in 
her  speeches  stirred  new  suspicions  in  his  mind. 

"  But  Iris  was  ill  ?  "  he  insisted.  "  There  can  be 
no  doubt  of  that?" 

"  I  am  such  a  poor  judge,"  she  answered,  mean- 
ingly, "  for  in  a  place  like  hers  I  wouldn't  have 
missed  this  evening  for  the  world." 

"  Beautiful  night,"  he  murmured,  "  and  a  bril- 
liant scene." 

Her  voice  sank  to  something  like  a  sigh. 


100          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

"  But  I  was  thinking  of  pleasures  that  go  far 
deeper  than  that." 

Vail  disliked  the  trend  of  the  conversation  exceed- 
ingly. He  was  wondering  what  he  could  say  or  do 
by  way  of  making  his  escape  when  a  new  sensation 
of  uneasiness  compelled  him  to  peer  through  the 
foliage  across  the  dimly  lighted  place,  where  he  found 
his  gaze  confronted  by  two  sets  of  widely  differing 
eyes. 

One  pair  of  eyes  was  as  coldly  gray  as  crockery; 
the  others  were  as  black  as  carbons.  The  gray  eyes 
were  those  of  a  woman.  Her  companion  was  a 
swarthy  East  Indian,  whose  gaze  was  a  penetrative 
stare.  That  both  were  engaged  in  a  concentrated 
study  either  of  himself  or  of  Enid,  Vail  felt  with  a 
sense  akin  to  anger. 

Neither  the  man  nor  the  woman  had  moved  when 
Enid,  abruptly  following  Julian's  fixed  attention, 
glanced  quickly  across  through  the  leaves.  Instantly 
she  rose  from  her  seat. 

"  Oh,  I  wonder  if  I  hadn't  promised  this  dance 
to Would  you  mind  if  we  returned  to  the  ball- 
room? "  she  said.  "  It's  such  a  provoking  thing  for 
anyone  to  forget  an  obligation." 

Vail  was  glad  to  escort  her  back,  for  his  own  impa- 
tience was  increasing.  They  had  hardly  more  than 
entered  on  the  floor,  however,  than  Enid  declared  she 
had  dropped  her  fan,  for  which  he  went  to  search. 
The  fan  was  not  upon  or  near  the  bench.  He  re- 
turned to  find  that  Enid  had  disappeared,  greatly 
to  his  relief. 


THE  FIRES  OF  LOVE  101 

He  barely  escaped  a  collision  with  Sir  Hugh  Pear- 
son, as  he  started  down  the  hall,  and  half  a  minute 
later,  by  the  fortunes  of  fate,  was  conventionally 
presented  to  Barbara,  whose  name,  according  to  the 
English  baron,  was  Lady  Constance  Drew. 

He  offered  his  arm,  which  she  tremblingly  ac- 
cepted, and  led  her  excitedly  away.  His  heart  was 
almost  audibly  pounding  in  his  breast,  while  Bar- 
bara's wildly  fluttered. 

For  a  moment  neither  spoke,  and  all  the  room  be- 
came a  blur.  Vail  was  the  first  to  find  his  voice. 

"  What  a  wonderful  assemblage." 

She  barely  murmured,  "  Yes." 

His  heart  was  too  full  for  trivialities.  He  turned 
his  gaze  upon  her  face. 

"  Barbara,  what  does  it  mean — this  encounter 
here? — another  name? — another  surprise  and  puz- 
zle?" 

She  was  tremendously  overwrought. 

"  Oh !— I  don't  really  know." 

"You  don't  know?  But  what  am  I  to  believe? 
You  told  me  your  name " 

"  My  name  isn't  Lady  Constance — that  is,  I  mean 
I've  never  said  it  was.  I  have  told  you  nothing  but 
the  truth — at  least,  I've  tried  to  tell  you  nothing  else." 

He  felt  her  tremble,  felt  the  strain  of  something 
she  strove  to  meet  with  all  her  vanishing  courage. 

"  Not  Lady  Constance  ?  "  he  repeated.  "  This  is 
just  some  masquerade?  " 

She  was  nearly  ready  for  collapse,  with  increasing 
apprehension. 


102          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

"  I  would  tell  you  all  about  it  if  I  could.  I  can- 
not tell  you  here.  I  wish — I  wish Oh,  if  only 

I  hadn't  come !  I  know  I  deserve  to  be  exposed !  But 
I  do  wish  you  to  believe  me  honest — believe  me  grate- 
ful— compelled  to  do If  you  could  have  a  lit- 
tle more  trust,  in  spite Oh!  I  don't  know  what 

you  must  think !  " 

"  I've  got  to  believe  you're  everything  that's 
beautiful ! "  he  answered,  from  his  agony  of  heart. 
"  It  seems  as  if  I've  known  you  always,  Barbara.  I 
seem  to  have  lived  for  years,  the  past  two  days. 

But  don't  you  see This  morning,  why  did  you 

run  away? — and  where  did  you  go?  How  did  you 
happen  to  be  in  that  house?  Who  was  the  man? 
And  now,  to-night — here — here  like  this  !  I  hardly 
know  what  to  believe.  I  want  you  to  tell  me  every- 
thing. I've  promised  to  be  your  friend ! " 

Her  eyes  met  his  with  a  wistfulness  that  crept  to 
the  shrine  of  his  soul.  Some  violent  conflict  of  emo- 
tions was  waging  in  her  breast.  Fright  and  sheer 
bravery  of  spirit  were  written  together  in  her  face. 

"  I'd  tell  you  if  I  could,"  she  repeated.  "  I  can't ! 
But  please,  please  don't  condemn  me.  I  couldn't  bear 
it — now." 

Some  mighty  exultation  leaped  to  his  outermost 
pulses. 

"  You'd  care  if  I  condemned  you — little  friend  ?  " 

Her  eyes  abruptly  brimmed  with  tears. 

"  Please  don't — call  me  that — unless " 

"  I  mean  it — God  help  me,  Barbara,  no  matter 
what I  mean  I  want  you  to  let  me  prove 


THE  FIRES  OF  LOVE  103 

Why  don't  you  let  me  help  you  more  than  I  can 
with  all  this  mystification?  Perhaps  you  don't  even 
realize " 

"  Oh,  please,"  she  interrupted,  " — not  here — not 
now.  Let's  not  talk  about  me  any  more." 

Her  beauty  had  overwhelmed  him.  Her  appeal  to 
his  friendship,  and  her  wish  for  his  good  opinion, 
had  plunged  him  into  a  reckless  love  that  might  have 
accepted  anything,  if  only  her  heart  were  his  own. 
His  soul  had  become  her  sponsor,  his  blind,  tem- 
pestuous soul  that  reckoned  not  with  logic,  but  with 
careless  adoration  that  her  lips  could  have  bribed 
with  a  kiss.  It  was  sheer,  exalted  madness,  too  sweet 
to  be  denied. 

"  But  when?  "  he  said.  "  We  must  have  a  talk — 
a  long,  frank  conference.  Certain  things  have  hap- 
pened that  concern  us  both — and  we  need  each 
other's  help." 

The  music  commenced,  a  waltz  by  Strauss  that 
was  honeyed  with  intoxicants,  like  wines  translated 
into  sound.  Barbara  smiled,  a  faint,  shy  hope  in  her 
eyes. 

"  May  we  dance?  " 

He  took  her  in  his  arms.  "  Though  paradise  were 
lost  instead  of  gained." 

It  was  a  wonderful  dance,  that  enslaved  him  anew 
and  blotted  all  else  from  the  joyous  world  save  just 
themselves  alone.  It  was  not  less  ecstatic  or  enamor- 
ing  for  the  fact  that  ominous  mysteries  lay  behind 
and  all  about  their  brief  acquaintance.  They  should 
still  have  danced  thus,  heart  to  heart,  though  all  the 


104          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

world's  volcanoes  were  threatening  beneath  their 
feet. 

Only  once  did  Barbara  glance  for  a  second  in  his 
eyes,  but  he  felt  his  soul  lift  out  and  away  to  heights 
heretofore  unimagined. 

Both  were  breathless  with  things  inexpressible  when 
the  waltz  was  concluded  at  last.  Around  with  the 
throng  they  continued  strolling  while  the  world  of 
realities  returned. 

"  Are  you  going  back  to  Mrs.  Loomis's  ? "  he 
asked  her  finally,  roused  to  a  sense  that  the  evening 
must  presently  end,  and  mystery  once  more  claim 
her  for  its  own.  "  You  won't  run  away  from  me 
again  ?  " 

"  I — I'll  do  the  best  I  can,"  she  answered,  eva- 
sively. "  If  only  I  can  manage If  we  are  real 

friends,  don't  make  me  promise  anything  to-night." 

"  But  you  will  explain  to  me,  Barbara,  what  some 
of  these  happenings  mean?  I  assure  you  it's  very 
serious  indeed.  You've  got  to  let  me  see  you,  little 
friend.  You  must  understand  that  now !  " 

She  was  once  more  trembling. 

"  Oh,  I  don't  know  what  to  do  !  I  don't  know  what 
to  do ! " 

"  In  Heaven's  name,  let  me  help  you ! "  he  im- 
plored. "  Why  keep  me  thus  in  the  dark?  Even  this 
masquerade  of  yours  to-night — you  haven't  told  me 
what  it  means — or  how  it  came  about.  You  told  me 
you  had  neither  friends  nor  money,  and  yet,  your 
gown — your  jewels " 

He    halted    suddenly,    afflicted   with    a    sickening 


THE  FIRES  OF  LOVE  105 

thought  that  other  gsms  besides  the  ruby  had  been 
stolen  when  the  Indian  prince  was  slain.  It  scarcely 
seemed  possible  she  would  dare  to  appear  in  public 
with  any  such  gems — and  yet,  where  might  this 
boldness  and  tangle  of  mysteries  lead,  in  the  light  of 
things  she  had  already  done? 

They  were  startled  eyes  she  turned  upon  him  now. 

"  Oh,  I  thought  we'd  agreed  to  drop  it  all  to- 
night. I  can't !  I  can't  tell  anything — anything 
more — just  yet !  " 

"  But  don't  you  see  how  it  appears  ?  "  he  still  in- 
sisted. "  To-day,  in  that  house,  I  thought  you 
needed  help,  and  yet  to-night " 

"  Please  take  me  to  my  seat,"  she  interrupted, 
pleadingly,  more  alarmed  than  before.  "  I've  prom- 
ised this  dance  to  that  gentleman  waiting  now." 

There  was  nothing  for  Vail  to  do  but  comply  with 
her  desire.  He  led  her  to  the  place  where  he  had 
begged  the  formal  introduction.  She  was  there  de- 
livered to  a  foreign-looking  man  whom  Julian  had 
never  met,  and  he  watched  her  gliding  away. 

With  the  dance  no  more  than  well  begun,  and 
while  he  continued  to  watch  her  eagerly,  he  lost  her 
in  the  throng.  He  made  his  way  towards  the  grotto, 
saw  her  emerge  alone  and  hasten  away  to  the  room 
where  wraps  were  checked,  and  then,  three  minutes 
later,  beheld  her  joined  by  a  tall,  broad-shouldered 
man  in  evening  dress  already  prepared  to  depart. 

Vail  had  barely  time  to  observe  that  the  man  had 
brick-red  hair  and  to  realize  it  was  he  that  he  had 
seen  on  the  stairs  in  the  house  of  iron  men  when  an- 


106          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

other    woman   joined    them    and   the   trio   hastened 

away.     Then  a  voice  behind  him  broke  upon  his  ear. 
"  Oh,  here  you  are,  Julian,  after  all ! " 
He  turned  and  found  Enid  Puryn  on  the  arm  of 

Chester  Cranch. 

The  ball  had  become  something  more  than  a  bore ; 

it  amounted  to  a  torture. 


CHAPTER  XIII 

JEEOLD  GARRISON'S  CRAFT 

THE  ball  that  concluded  at  two  o'clock  in  the 
morning  lasted  throughout  the  night  for  Vail, 
despite  the  fact  that  he  and  Enid  retreated  early 
from  the  scene. 

This  morning,  as  he  sat  once  more  at  his  desk 
in  reach  of  the  brass  shell,  hoarding  some  freshly 
purchased  carnations  and  the  ruby,  he  recalled  every 
word  and  glance  that  had  marked  Miss  Lee's  be- 
havior as  Lady  Constance  Drew.  His  mind  had 
known  no  repose  or  satisfaction  since  the  moment 
he  had  seen  her  depart. 

A  complex  sensation  of  relief  and  need  for  caution 
assailed  him  when  Broughton  opened  the  door  to  an- 
nounce Detective  Garrison.  He  piled  a  mass  of  un- 
read letters  before  him  and  assumed  an  air  of  busi- 
ness occupation  with  the  greatest  alacrity,  by  way 
of  preparation  for  the  criminologist's  inspection. 

But  he  rose  to  give  his  visitor  hearty  welcome, 
when  Garrison  entered  the  room,  and  waved  him  at 
once  to  a  chair. 

"  Well,  well,"  he  said,  "  I  nearly  short-circuited 
the  wires  here  yesterday  trying  to  get  you  on  the 
'phone.  You  must  have  been  out  all  afternoon." 

107 


108          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

"  All  night  as  well,"  said  Garrison,  leaning  some- 
what heavily  back  in  his  chair.  "  I  have  frequently 
found  that  a  false  alarm  will  lead  me  further  and 
cost  more  time  than  half  a  dozen  genuine  calls." 

"  To  which  case  do  you  refer  ?  "  asked  Julian,  toy- 
ing with  a  small  bronze  buffalo  that  usually  held  his 
papers  on  the  desk.  "  Was  it  mine  or  the  Ma- 
harajah's? " 

Garrison  eyed  him,  apparently  with  languid 
interest. 

"  That  remains  to  be  seen.  Has  it  ever  occurred 
to  you  to  wonder  if  the  two  might  have  some  slight 
connection?  "  Before  Vail  could  answer  he  resumed. 
"  That  reminds  me  to  ask  who  it  was  you  were  chas- 
ing yesterday  in  the  car.  You  must  have  got  out 
by  the  basement  door  and  felt  a  bit  pressed  for 
time." 

Julian  attempted  a  laugh. 

"  I  did.  I  heard  someone  open  a  door  and  I  called 
rather  lustily  for  you.  Then  I  caught  a  glimpse  of 
a  man  escaping  and  eagerly  took  up  the  chase.  He 
got  to  his  car  before  I  could  work  the  lock.  Then  I 
ran  for  your  machine  and  tried  to  overhaul  him — 
with  what  success  you  doubtless  know." 

"  I  know  the  effort  failed.  But  about  the  man  you 
saw  and  pursued — what  sort  of  a  person  was  he?  " 

"  Why — I  saw  him  so  indistinctly — and  briefly," 
Vail  answered,  warned  to  additional  caution  by  Gar- 
rison's remark  concerning  possible  connections  of 
Barbara  with  the  crime.  "  Didn't  the  chauffeur  see 
what  the  fellow  was  like?  " 


JEROLD  GARRISON'S  CRAFT    109 

Garrison  shook  his  head. 

"  He  must  have  been  half-asleep  on  his  seat  when 
you  leaped  in  the  car  with  orders  to  chase  the  limou- 
sine. It's  particularly  unfortunate,  Mr.  Vail,  you 
can  give  no  description  of  the  man." 

Julian  studied  the  small  bronze  buffalo  minutely. 

"  I'm  sorry.  But  about  my  birthday  remembrance, 
have  you  anything  new  to  report  ?  " 

Garrison  leaned  forward. 

"  Let  me  ask  you  a  number  of  preliminary  ques- 
tions. Yesterday  you  said  Miss  Lee  had  left  the 
place  where  you  found  her  a  shelter.  Have  you  seen 
her  since?  " 

"  She  had  not  returned  last  night,"  said  Vail,  eva- 
sively. "  I  haven't  'phoned  this  morning." 

"  Because  you  believe  she  isn't  there  ?  " 

"  I'm  rather  expecting  her  to  let  me  know  when 
she  returns." 

Garrison  retained  his  attitude  of  alert  and  in- 
tensified interest. 

"  I  ought  to  see  her,  Mr.  Vail.  I  believe  she  told 
you  something  of  her  trunk,  which  some  Mrs.  Cree 
agreed  to  take  in  charge.  Has  anything  been  dis- 
covered of  that?  " 

Vail  felt  a  new  apprehension — a  vague  sort  of 
dread  of  the  things  that  trunk  might  contain.  Bar- 
bara's eagerness  for  its  recovery  coupled  now  with 
Garrison's  hints  bestirred  his  imagination  to  fill  it 
full  of  pilfered  gems  as  accusing  as  the  ruby.  He 
had  gone  too  far  in  protecting  the  girl  to  betray 
his  knowledge  now. 


110          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

"  Nothing  has  been  found  of  anything  connected 
with  the  matter,  to  my  knowledge,"  he  replied.  "  I 
put  everything  up  to  you  when  you  started  from 
here  yesterday.  Perhaps  it  would  help  if  I  knew 
just  what  you  have  discovered." 

"  Perhaps,"  said  Garrison,  dryly.  "  First,  with 
respect  to  Miss  Lee  and  her  father,  the  facts  she 
imparted  were  substantially  correct.  Lee  always 
lived  apart  from  his  neighbors,  attempting  to  avoid 
acquaintances.  He  was  an  Englishman,  I  should 
say,  with  something  to  conceal." 

Vail  looked  up  sharply. 

"  An  Englishman  ?    You  are  sure  ?  " 

"  Quite  positive.  We  hope  to  discover  more,  but 
his  record  is  obscure.  It  is  more  than  likely  his 
name  was  merely  assumed." 

Julian's  thoughts  confirmed  this  hypothesis,  if 
they  had  not  formed  it  for  themselves.  Neverthe- 
less, it  disturbed  him  anew  to  hear  the  suspicion  put 
into  words,  in  the  light  of  what  he  knew. 

"  That  is  all  you  have  found  ?  "  he  inquired. 

"  All  at  present,  concerning  Lee.  This  box,  in 
which  your  *  gift '  was  delivered,  was  made  by 
Epsilon,  the  florist,  on  the  order  of  a  lady  who 
instructed  him  over  the  'phone." 

Julian  sat  up  stiffly,  electrified  by  this  intelli- 
gence. 

"  Then,  of  course,  he  knows  her  name ! " 

"  The  name  she  gave  was  Mrs.  Howard  Gribble." 

Vail  arose  from  his  seat. 

"  Mrs.     Howard     Gribble — my    friend     Gribble's 


JERDLD  GARRISON'S  CRAFT    111 

wife?  That's  absurd!  She  sailed  last  week  for 
Glasgow,  and  I  saw  her  off  at  the  pier ! " 

Garrison  was  calm. 

"  I  said  it  was  the  name  the  lady  gave.  She 
doubtless  chose  it  because  jour  friend  was  sure  to 
be  away." 

Vail  sat  down. 

"  It's  an  outrage ! — to  use  a  name  like  that !  What 
arrangement  was  made  about  the  box?  I  mean, 
what  was  it  ordered  for? — how  was  the  matter  pre- 
sented to  the  florist?" 

"  Quite  simply.  He  was  desired  to  prepare  a  huge, 
cardboard  flower-box,  as  you  see  it  there,  except  for 
the  wire  supports,  and  to  pack  in  it  a  small  wild- 
cherry  tree,  in  blossom,  for  your  birthday  gift,  keep- 
ing everything  secret,  of  course.  That  was  last 
week.  The  case  and  tree  were  delivered  to  certain 
men,  who  said  they  came  from  Mrs.  Gribble,  Sunday 
night.  The  men  arrived  in  a  limousine  car — per- 
haps the  one  you  were  chasing  yesterday — and  took 
the  box  away.  The  bill,  by  the  way,  made  out  to 
Mrs.  Gribble,  has  not  been  paid." 

"  By  George !  "  said  Vail.  "  It  was  all  concocted 
by  someone  familiar  with  the  names  of  my  friends, 
that's  certain ! " 

"  Precisely.  And  the  persons  concerned  took  the 
simplest,  most  efficient  means  of  avoiding  detection, 
in  having  Epsilon  make  and  letter  the  box.  It  was 
easy  enough  to  trace  it  to  him,  but  there  the  trail 
is  confused.  When  and  where  the  young  lady  was 
substituted  for  the  cherry  tree  remains  to  be  discov- 


112          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

ered,  together  with  the  motive  in   sending  her  to 
you." 

Once  more  Vail  arose.  He  began  to  pace  the 
floor. 

"  This  leaves  us  about  where  we  previously  stood. 
What  motives  are  suggested  to  your  mind,  in  addi- 
tion to  that  which  Gardner  might  possess?" 

"  Several,"  said  Garrison,  "  but  my  deductions  are 
incomplete.  If  by  any  chance  Miss  Lee  had  left  some 
parcel  in  your  care,  the  case  might  be  plainer  sailing. 
You  have  mentioned  nothing  of  the  kind." 

Fortunately  Julian's  back  was  turned,  as  he  paced 
the  length  of  the  office.  Otherwise  the  sudden  crim- 
soning of  his  face  might  not  have  been  readily  ex- 
plained. He  hesitated,  yet  only  for  a  moment,  sti- 
fling an  impulse  to  reveal  all  he  knew  and  so  at  least 
end  the  suspense. 

"  No,"  he  said,  "  she  left  no  parcel,"  a  statement 
that  was  technically  true.  "  Will  you  kindly  inform 
me  why  you  would  have  expected — from  what  you 
deduce — a  supposition  that  she  might  have  done  any- 
thing of  the  sort?  " 

Garrison's  eyes  brightened. 

"  It  would  have  been  such  a  clever  device — always 
supposing  a  coterie  of  cunning  knaves  had  desired 
to  conceal  a  bit  of  loot.  What  could  be  more  crafty 
than  to  send  some  dangerous  treasure  to  a  gentleman, 
chivalrous  and  generous  of  heart,  by  way  of  a  beau- 
tiful young  woman?" 

He  was  so  fearfully  near  the  truth  that  Vail  felt 
a  weakness  at  the  knees.  He  echoed  helplessly: 


113 

"  A  beautiful  young  woman  ?  " 

"  She  was  so  appraised  by  Miss  Puryn — and  women 
rarely  bestow  an  undeserved  compliment." 

"  I'm  afraid  that  isn't  the  point,  after  all,"  said 
Julian,  attempting  a  laugh,  that  lacked  in  mirth. 
"  What  sort  of  loot  could  possibly  be  delivered  in  a 
manner  so  extraordinary?" 

"  Oh,  anything  small,  of  great  value — gems,  for 
instance." 

Vail  was  perspiring.  How  much  did  this  over- 
penetrative  criminologist  know  or  suspect?  The 
necessity  for  pursuing  the  subject  was  absolute. 
Julian  halted  in  his  march  across  the  floor. 

"  Gems  ? — a  poor  friendless  girl  ?  What  are  you 
driving  at,  Garrison?  What  sort  of  a  theory  have 
you  formed?  Tell  me  what  you  have  found." 

Garrison  met  and  held  his  client's  eyes  with  a 
steady,  searching  gaze. 

"  I  found  a  branch  of  the  cherry  tree — in  the 
house  of  the  ruby  crime." 

Vail  received  the  shock  without  a  sign.  He  even 
took  time  to  think,  and  collect  his  nerve  before  he 
attempted  an  answer. 

"  A  branch  of  the  cherry  tree  that " 

"  For  which  Miss  Lee  was  substituted  in  the  box." 

Julian  was  apparently  unruffled. 

"  And  what  do  you  make  of  that  ?  " 

Garrison  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  It  would  make  such  a  beautiful  affair — such  a 
triumph  of  deductive  science — if  only  the  girl  had 
left  something  here  for  you  to  keep." 


114          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

Vail  forced  a  laugh. 

"  The  great  Gatama  ruby  ?  " 

"  Precisely." 

The  irony  of  the  situation,  with  the  ruby  less  than 
two  feet  away  from  the  keen  detective's  nose,  struck 
a  spark  from  the  sense  of  humor  in  Julian's  composi- 
tion that  had  recently  lain  inactive. 

"  Let  me  suggest  you  search  the  room,"  he  said. 
"  But  I  solemnly  assure  you  there  is  nothing  of  Miss 
Lee's  in  the  place."  This  again  was  strictly  true, 
but  doubt  and  dread  had  come  for  deep  lodgment  in 
his  breast. 

Garrison  waved  his  hand  in  a  deprecating  gesture. 

"  Thank  you,  I  shouldn't  have  waited  so  long  as 
this  had  I  not  been  afraid  of  some  flaw  in  my  chain 
of  logic.  Your  statement  is  sufficient,  and  has  been 
so  from  the  first.  You  will  see,  however,  the  neces- 
sity of  an  interview  between  Miss  Lee  and  myself." 

Julian  rushed  to  her  defense. 

"  I  am  certain  you  would  be  the  first  to  pronounce 
her  an  innocent,  truthful  young  woman  who  has  been 
abominably  treated." 

"  That  would  be  a  very  great  pleasure,  despite 
certain  duties  I  owe  to  a  thorough  probing  in  the 
case  of  this  Maharajah  crime." 

"  But,"  said  Vail,  "  now  that  you  acknowledge  the 
flaw  in  your  line  of  reasoning,  must  you  still  insist 
upon  connecting  Miss  Lee  with  an  affair  so  revolting 
as  that?  " 

"  The  facts  insist  upon  connecting  themselves," 
corrected  Garrison.  "  What  would  you  have  me  do  ? 


JEROLD  GARRISON'S  CRAFT    115 

Doesn't  this  cherry-tree  development  startle  some  as- 
surance from  your  mind  ?  " 

"  Oh,  it  mixes  things  up ! "  admitted  Julian,  once 
more  pacing  the  room.  "  It's  amazing,  of  course, 
and  I  wish  to  know  precisely  what  it  means.  But 
naturally  I'm  more  concerned  to  know  why  I  was 
selected  as  the  one  to  whom  Miss  Lee  was  sent.  Why 
was  it  done — and  by  whom?  Have  you  worked  out 
a  theory  on  that?  " 

Garrison  nodded. 

"  It's  a  habit  of  my  brain.  Certain  elements  of 
her  tale  ring  true.  She  seems,  for  example,  to  have 
been  without  either  friends  or  relations — just  the 
sort  of  person  that  anyone  designing  this  plot  upon 
yourself  would  select  for  an  innocent  tool.  There  is 
no  one  to  follow  her  up,  inquire  about  her  disap- 
pearance, or  sound  an  alarm  in  her  behalf.  In  a 
word,  there  is  no  one  to  befriend  or  protect  her,  no 
matter  what  her  fate." 

Something  welled  in  Julian's  breast.  He  was 
all  but  betrayed  into  crying  forth  that  she  had 
one  friend  and  champion  who  would  serve  her, 
if  need  be  to  the  death.  He  calmed  himself  by  an 
effort. 

"  I  might  have  known  you'd  see  that,  Garrison," 
he  said.  "  It  struck  me  from  the  first." 

"  Yet,  if  she  is  friendless  in  Gotham,  where  has 
she  been  since  sometime  yesterday  morning?  " 

Vail  was  a  bit  nonplused. 

"  Why — my  presumption  is  she  prefers  some  plans 
of  her  own — self -support — a  brave  sort  of  independ- 


116          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

ence,  rather  than  rely  on  the  bounty  of  a  stranger. 
But,  whether  she  is  an  innocent  victim  or  not,  it  is 
inconceivable  she  was  sent  to  me  for  anything  save  a 
sinister  motive.  It  must  have  been  done  for  my 
hurt,  or  ruin,  and  On  that  I  want  your  help." 

"  I  am  losing  as  little  time  as  possible,"  Garrison 
assured  him.  "  Have  you  found  any  further  evi- 
dence that  anyone  is  attempting  to  benefit  at  all  by 
the  business  so  far  as  it  has  gone?" 

Julian  related  the  affair  of  the  ball,  so  far  as  it 
touched  upon  Iris  Puryn  and  her  sister,  adding  a 
brief  recital  of  the  attack  that  Gardner  was  making 
on  the  B.  &  K.  C.  R.  R. 

"  I  have  an  alternative  theory  in  the  matter,"  Gar- 
rison confessed,  rising  and  taking  up  his  hat.  "  It 
is  still  too  uncertain  and  even  fantastic  to  offer  to 
anyone  as  yet.  In  a  case  like  this  we  need  each 
other's  constant  co-operation.  I  know  you'll  remem- 
ber that.  There  is  some  connection  between  the  ruby 
crime  and  Miss  Lee,  who  was  sent  as  a  gift  to  you. 
I  have  overstayed  my  time  this  morning.  If  I  find 
Miss  Lee  before  you  learn  of  her  present  place  of 
retirement,  I  will  let  you  know  at  once." 

Julian  stared  at  him  blankly. 

"  You  are  attempting  to  search  her  out  ?  " 

"  Naturally.     She  is  very  important  to  us  both." 

A  clerk  of  the  office  knocked  on  the  door  and  en- 
tered to  deliver  a  telegram.  Vail  tore  it  open,  and 
his  heart  fairly  leaped  with  excitement. 

It  was  dated  from  Hackett  Tides,  Long  Island, 
and  was  worded  as  follows: 


JEROLD  GARRISON'S  CRAFT         117 

"  If  possible,  please  come,  immediately,  or  send 
help,  Island  House.  Ask  for  Mr.  Pierce,  cigar  store. 
Barbara  Lee." 

With  apparent  indifference  he  folded  it  up  and 
tossed  it  to  the  desk.  He  turned  to  Garrison  again. 

"  Yes,  if  you  find  her,  you  might  call  me  up  on 
the  'phone." 

"  Right,"  said  Garrison.     "  Good-by." 

He  went  out  at  the  private  door. 

"  I've  got  to  see  her  first,"  said  Julian,  to  him- 
self, and  he  hastened  to  the  outer  offices  to  deliver 
his  day's  instructions. 

At  twelve  o'clock  he  steered  his  car  on  a  ferry 
boat  bound  for  Long  Island,  and  commenced  a  forty- 
mile  ride. 

A  small,  high-power  runabout,  driven  by  a  woman, 
rolled  on  like  a  shadow  in  his  tracks. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

A    TEEACHEEY 

THE  region  of  Long  Island's  shore  is  traversed 
by  roads  in  all  directions,  with  signposts  mea- 
gerly  supplied.  On  two  occasions  Julian  missed  his 
way  and  paid  with  large  losses  of  time. 

It  was  dusk  when  at  length  he  halted  his  car  at 
Silver  Rill,  some  three  miles  removed  from  Hackett 
Tides,  and  dark  when  at  length  he  arrived  on  foot 
at  the  straggling,  half-deserted  village  that  marked 
his  destination.  He  took  this  precaution  to  remain 
unobserved,  in  absolute  ignorance  of  the  fact  that 
the  woman  behind  him  in  the  runabout  had  tagged 
him  all  the  way. 

The  aspect  of  the  isolated  and  neglected  hamlet, 
with  night  thus  descended  upon  it,  was  anything  save 
inviting.  A  smell  of  tide-deserted  mud  was  the  only 
thing  moving  in  the  place.  The  few  lights  twinkling 
in  the  gloom  that  the  moon  would  dissipate  no 
earlier  than  nine  o'clock,  appeared  to  Vail  like  meager 
beams  to  warn  the  wary  mariner  away. 

He  was  hungry,  a  fact  now  emphasized  by  the 
vanishment  of  any  dream  of  dining  with  Barbara 
here  that  he  might  have  entertained  while  driving 
alone  on  the  road.  He  began  to  reflect  that  such  a 
summons  as  the  telegram  might  grove  the  cheapest 

118 


A  TREACHERY  119 

sort  of  blind,  if  not  a  device  to  get  him  away  from 
his  office  while  the  place  was  being  searched  for  the 
ruby. 

Yet  there  was  always  the  chance  that  Barbara  was 
in  fact  in  desperate  need  of  his  services,  with,  as  Gar- 
rison had  said,  no  one  to  befriend  and  protect  her. 
So  plausible  was  this  contingency  that  nothing  could 
have  induced  him  to  ignore  the  cry  for  help  that  he 
deemed  the  message  to  contain.  His  heart  had 
leaped  before  him  all  the  way,  feverish  but  impotent 
to  compass  Barbara's  safety  against — the  Lord 
alone  knew  what  of  fright  or  peril. 

He  was  thoroughly  convinced  she  was  held  in  the 
power  of  some  ingenious  set  of  scoundrels  with  no 
one  to  turn  to  save  himself.  He  was  armed  with  a 
loaded  revolver,  reposing  in  the  pocket  of  his  coat, 
and  had  warned  himself  to  expect  either  fraud  or 
attack. 

It  was  not  without  considerable  trouble  and  an- 
noyance that  he  came  at  length  upon  the  little  shack, 
dignified  by  the  name  of  "  store,"  where  tobacco, 
deadly  at  fifty  yards,  was  vended  to  the  poison-proof 
denizens  of  the  "  Tides."  It  was  part  of  a  much- 
battered  wheelhouse,  from  a  steamboat  long  since 
defunct.  It  stood  upon  the  edge  of  the  mud  that 
scented  the  air,  where  a  rickety  pier  was  succumb- 
ing to  lingering  consumption.  -Beyond  was  much 
of  the  ooze,  and  the  edge  of  the  water,  where  two 
or  three  boats  were  moored  to  sagging  lines. 

Vail  disliked  the  outlook  exceedingly,  but  his  con- 
fidence returned  at  sight  of  Mr.  Pierce,  smoking 


120          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

alone  before  his  cigar  emporium,  in  a  contest  of 
smells  with  the  mud. 

The  cigar  man  was  a  tall,  lazy,  drawling  indi- 
vidual, prone  to  many  smiles,  florid  of  countenance, 
and  altogether  cheering  and  assuring.  He  could  be 
cautious,  however,  and  even  suspicious,  which  devel- 
oped so  soon  as  Julian  broached  his  subject. 

"  I  have  had  a  wire  from  this  town,"  Vail  informed 
the  smoker,  "  instructing  me  to  ask  for  you  as  one 
who  might  help  me  to  find  the  Island  House,  which 
I  suppose  is  somewhere  near.  Can  you  spare  the 
time  at  once?  " 

"  Hold  on,  friend — go  a  bit  easy,"  said  Pierce,  be- 
tween puffs  at  his  pipe.  "  How  do  I  know  ye  be  the 
man  I'm  waitin'  fer  over  an  hour?  What's  yer 
name?  " 

"  Vail— Mr.  Julian  Vail." 

"  Keerect,  so  fur,  and  O.K.,"  agreed  the  man  of 
caution.  "  Next,  what's  the  name  of  the  lady  ?  " 

"  Miss  Barbara  Lee.  It  might  be  important,  Mr. 
Pierce,  to  hasten  in  this  matter — if  you  please." 

"  Keerect,"  consented  Mr.  Pierce,  "  but  understand 
she  asked  me  special  to  be  keerful,  as  her  troubles 
was  numerous  and  the  wrong  guys  might  git  the 
word." 

"You  saw  her?"  demanded  Julian.  "She  was 
here  ?  What  is  the  trouble  ?  Where  is  she  now  ?  " 

"  Hold  on,"  admonished  Pierce  as  before,  slowly 
putting  on  his  coat  and  closing  the  door  of  his 
place.  "  I'll  take  you  where  she  is,  for  you  wouldn't 
know  if  I  told  ye,  and  that's  better  than  standin' 


A  TREACHERY 

here  gassin' ! "  He  lighted  a  lantern  and  started 
for  the  pier.  "  What's  more  than  that,"  he  added, 
soberly,  "  we  got  to  go  crafty  now.  No  noise,  no 
fuss.  Just  do  our  business  quiet  or  leave  it  alone 
altogether." 

They  came  to  the  end  of  the  creaking  wharf,  where 
the  habitant  pulled  in  a  boat.  It  was  large  and 
provided  with  two  sets  of  oars  and  a  tiller,  now 
shipped  and  lying  on  the  seat  at  the  stern. 

Julian  lost  no  time  in  clambering  aboard  and 
pulling  off  his  coat.  His  companion,  standing  on 
the  seat,  raised  the  lantern  to  his  face,  put  it  down 
as  if  in  indecision,  then  raised  it  again,  and  blew 
it  out.  He  stored  it  underneath  his  seat. 

"Better  take  it,"  he  said,  "but  'twouldn't  be 
crafty  to  show  a  light  or  nuthin'.  Leave  me  store 
your  coat  up  for'ard.  Might  git  wet  there  in  the 
stern." 

The  coat  was  transferred,  and,  with  both  men  pres- 
ently plying  the  oars,  the  craft  shot  out  from  the 
zone  of  slime  and  was  guided  straight  seaward  from 
the  shore. 

Talking  ceased.  Afar  off,  Julian  fancied,  he  could 
hear  the  muffled  putt-putt  of  a  motor  boat,  rapidly 
retreating  in  the  gloom.  The  stars  alone  were  visi- 
ble, except  for  the  rippled  surface  of  the  water  in 
what  appeared  to  be  a  bay  of  considerable  extent. 
There  was  nothing  anywhere  in  all  the  region  that 
Vail  had  ever  seen. 

He  could  merely  guess  at  the  distance  achieved, 
for  rowing;  in  darkness  with  nothing  visible  on  either 


THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

hand  to  serve  for  guides  or  comparison  is  a  weird  ex- 
perience in  which  it  seems  the  boat  makes  no  progress 
whatsoever.  The  labor  seemed  interminable.  Vail 
had  fancied  fifteen  minutes  would  be  long  for  this 
excursion  on  the  water.  They  rowed  on  and  on, 
while  a  thousand  doubts  of  Barbara's  safety  and 
the  wisdom  of  his  coming  thus  alone  took  posses- 
sion of  his  thoughts. 

Once  he  ventured  to  ask  how  much  further  they 
were  going.  The  man  of  caution  behind  him  replied 
with  an  eloquent  gesture  and  continued  to  pull  at 
the  oars. 

It  was  fully  an  hour  before  at  last  a  vague,  (lark 
form  was  discerned  ahead,  where  Julian  was  watch- 
ing. 

"  Pull  in  your  sweeps,"  whispered  the  boatman, 
"  and  don't  make  another  peep." 

The  tide  was  still  running  outward,  as  Vail  had 
already  observed.  It  was  nearly  at  the  ebb,  yet 
served  to  assist  the  oarsman  as  he  swung  out  farther 
to  starboard  where  the  island  loomed  low  and  broad. 
Then  at  length  the  roof  and  bulk  of  a  large-sized 
house,  as  dark  as  the  one  lone  tree  the  place  afforded, 
cut  a  dim  silhouette  against  the  sky,  and  supplied 
a  bearing  for  Pierce. 

He  maneuvered  his  boat  with  considerable  cunning 
to  avoid  a  bank  of  mud  and  sand,  then  drove  her 
prow  straight  inward  for  a  deep  but  narrow  channel, 
where  it  gently  bumped  in  grass  and  weeds. 

He  arose  and  handed  Vail  his  coat. 

"  Go  'round  to  the  door  by  the  tree,"  he  whispered, 


A  TREACHERY  123 

cautiously.  "  Tap  three  times,  light,  and,  if  nuthin' 
comes,  jest  throw  some  small  gravel  at  the  windy. 
I'll  be  waitin'  fer  ye  here." 

Julian  was  quickly  in  his  coat  and  moving  to- 
wards the  house.  Not  a  sound  broke  the  stillness, 
save  the  chirrup  of  crickets  in  the  shrubs.  The  island 
bore  every  sign  of  desertion.  Neglect  was  apparent, 
in  the  meager  light  that  the  stars  were  casting  on 
the  scene. 

Pausing  once  or  twice  to  listen  as  he  went,  Vail 
arrived  beneath  the  tree  and  found  the  door,  beside 
a  window,  half-boarded  up  and  dark.  The  entire 
place  appeared  about  as  inviting  as  a  graveyard. 
It  seemed  absurd  to  expect  to  find  Barbara  or  any 
other  living  being  in  a  place  so  remote  from  the 
habitable  world,  or  in  a  dwelling  that  showed  not 
so  much  as  a  glimmer  of  light. 

It  was  not  without  a  feeling  that  treachery  might 
lurk  in  any  shadow  that  Julian  halted  and  bethought 
him  to  step  to  the  corner  of  the  building  and  peer 
around  before  revealing  his  presence  by  so  much  as 
the  taps  on  the  door. 

There  was  nothing  in  sight  or  hearing,  either  to 
excite  more  suspicions  or  allay  a  sense  of  alertness 
that  the  whole  affair  had  engendered.  Vail  returned 
to  the  door  and  tapped  there  as  directed. 

Nothing  happened.  He  stepped  a  little  back,  to 
meet  any  possible  contingencies,  and  a  certain  ex- 
citement, born  of  the  unknown  element  in  the  ad- 
venture, began  to  subside  in  his  veins.  He  doubted 
the  presence  of  anyone  on  the  island,  save  himself 


THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

and  Pierce.  He  wondered  if  the  boatman  might  not 
have  departed  already,  leaving  him  there  alone. 

Restraining  an  impulse  to  hasten  back  to  the  chan- 
nel, he  hesitated,  caught  up  a  handful  of  gravel, 
and  threw  it  at  the  window  above  the  door.  The 
particles  rattled  sharply  on  the  glass,  but,  as  be- 
fore, there  was  not  the  slightest  result. 

With  a  rapidly  increasing  disgust  at  the  whole 
proceeding,  and  a  growing  conviction  he  had  merely 
been  duped  and  perhaps  marooned  here  after  all, 
he  still  had  the  patience  to  throw  the  sand  again  and 
stare  at  the  window  and  door.  He  even  tapped  once 
more  upon  the  boards — to  no  avail — then  angrily 
turned  away. 

He  had  hardly  gone  a  step  when  a  slight  sound 
caused  him  to  turn.  The  door  was  gaping  open. 
Two  masked  men  rushed  out  abruptly,  armed  with  a 
rope  and  a  sack. 

He  wheeled  to  meet  them  as  quickly  as  a  panther. 
His  hand  flew  back  to  his  pocket  for  the  pistol  he 
had  brought  in  case  of  need. 

The  gun  was  gone ! 


CHAPTER  XV 

AN   INQUISITION 

WITH  a  sudden  realization  that  Pierce  was  a 
traitor,  who  had  doubtless  purloined  the  re- 
volver while  caring  for  his  coat,  Vail  lurched  upon 
the  foremost  man  and  struck  him  a  blow  that  sent 
him  reeling  to  the  ground.  Then  he  started  to  run 
for  the  boat. 

Some  mad  intention  of  reaching  the  craft  ahead 
of  his  pursuers  and  hurling  himself  upon  the  lazy 
Pierce  before  that  honest-seeming  individual  could 
distinguish  one  man  from  another,  was  in  his  mind 
as  he  darted  from  the  scene. 

The  man  he  had  downed  and  the  man  with  the 
sack  were  instantly  plunging  in  his  trail.  In  the 
briefest  time  he  had  come  to  the  edge  where  the  boat 
should  be — to  find  there  was  nothing  in  sight. 

He  faced  about,  to  attack  as  before — then  was 
suddenly  smothered  from  the  rear. 

A  third  man,  doubtless  Pierce  himself,  had  been 
crouching  there  behind  a  shrub.  He  had  thrown  a 
sack  and  a  mighty  pair  of  arms  about  Vail's  head 
and  neck  and  hauled  him  clean  backwards  to  the 
earth. 

Even  then  the  struggle  was  a  fierce  convulsion  of 
125 


126          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

activity,  with  the  masked  men  aiding  their  accom- 
plice. Julian  struck  and  thrashed  with  the  punish- 
ing tactics  of  a  badger.  One  of  the  men  he  caught 
on  the  shin  with  a  vicious  jab  of  his  heel. 

No  one  uttered  a  sound.  A  few  hard  percussions 
of  breathing  alone  denoted  the  violence  of  the  fight. 

Despite  the  utmost  the  captive  could  do,  the  strug- 
gle was  soon  concluded.  His  captors  were  all  of 
them  muscular,  if  not  so  trained  in  athletics  as  him- 
self. They  dropped  their  bulk  upon  him,  held  him 
down,  and,  with  both  the  sacks  to  stifle  his  breath 
and  the  rope  to  bind  and  tie  him,  were  presently  en- 
abled to  arise  and  nurse  their  many  bruises,  leaving 
him  prostrate  on  the  grass,  to  stare  as  he  pleased  at 
their  masks. 

"  All  right,"  one  panted,  tersely,  in  a  rumbling, 
deep-toned  voice.  "  We'll  tend  to  the  rest  O.K." 

Another  bent  down  and  made  a  thorough  search 
of  Julian's  pockets,  in  quest  of  further  weapons,  of 
which  there  were  none.  The  man  who  had  used  the 
sack  from  the  rear  now  haltingly  retreated  through 
a  growth  of  shrubs  on  the  shore.  As  helpless  as  a 
log,  Vail  was  roughly  lifted  by  the  pair  who  had 
issued  from  the  house  and  was  carried  back  the  way 
he  had  come,  to  discover  a  lantern  burning  there, 
where  someone  had  placed  it  for  the  men. 

The  foremost  caught  it  up,  still  holding  their 
captive's  legs  in  the  crook  of  his  powerful  arm,  and 
entered  the  open  door.  A  second  barrier  was  swung 
from  their  path,  by  someone  in  the  shadow.  Vail 
was  convinced  he  saw  the  sway  of  a  woman's  skirt 


AN  INQUISITION  127 

where  the  lantern  threw  its  glow,  but  he  was  blinded 
to  everything  within  that  outer  room  by  a  light 
that  streamed  from  a  larger  apartment  beyond,  to 
which  he  was  carried,  to  be  dropped  at  once  on  the 
floor. 

The  door  was  closed  behind  him  and  the  men.  The 
pair  then  proceeded  deliberately  to  fetter  his  arms 
and  hands  less  clumsily  and  released  his  legs  from  the 
coils. 

"  Now  then,  friend,  git  up  and  take  a  chair,"  said 
the  shorter  of  the  men,  he  of  the  rumbling  voice. 
"  And  don't  ever  say  we  ain't  treated  you  far  more 
merciful  than  what  you  treated  us." 

He  even  assisted  Vail  to  rise  and  motioned  to  a 
box.  There  was  not  a  chair  in  the  place.  The  fur- 
nishings were  meager  to  the  last  degree,  for  a  table, 
three  stools,  a  lamp,  and  the  box  in  question  com- 
prised the  entire  appointments.  And  one  of  the 
stools  was  lame. 

Julian,  still  breathing  hard,  and  angered  all 
through  his  being,  remained  there  on  his  feet. 

"What  is  this?"  he  demanded.  "What's  the 
game?  " 

"  What  does  it  look  like  ?  "  answered  the  spokes- 
man, dryly,  "  puss  in  the  corner?  " 

"  You  got  me  here  for  something,  doubtless," 
Julian  answered.  "  We  might  as  well  get  at  it  at 
once." 

"  Spoken  like  a  gent  and  a  scholar,"  was  the  com- 
ment of  the  man  behind  the  mask.  "  Let's  all  be 
honest  and  brief  and  the  caucus  will  soon  be  over. 


128          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

That's  my  policy — brief  and  honest.  What  we  want, 
my  friend,  is  the  ruby  you  swiped  from  the  girl." 

Julian  felt  a  hot  flame  of  fire  burn  up  in  the  fur- 
nace of  his  heart,  together  with  astonishment,  resent- 
ment, and  hopelessness  in  the  situation. 

"  You're  a  liar,  both  as  to  your  policy  and  your  ac- 
cusation," he  replied,  no  less  ready  to  agree  to  certain 
truths  than  before,  and  much  more  calm,  in  the  face 
of  his  reception  by  the  men.  "  I  have  '  swiped '  no 
ruby  from  anyone,  and  beg  you  to  make  yourself 
plainer."  He  took  a  keen,  brief  inventory  of  the 
spokesman,  observing  he  had  lost  his  left-hand 
thumb. 

"  I'm  plain  enough — face,  morals,  and  proposi- 
tion," said  the  philosophical  scoundrel,  admirably 
cool,  and  he  sat  himself  down,  took  out  a  pipe  and 
began  to  stuff  it  with  tobacco.  "  It's  a  cinch  you 
got  the  sparkler — and  we  reckon  you're  goin'  to 
produce.  Now  what's  the  use  of  wasting  your  time — 
which  is  worth  far  more  than  our'n  ?  " 

Vail  did  some  rapid  thinking.  He  had  no  intention 
of  declaring  the  find  in  Barbara's  shoe,  for  the  rea- 
son he  hoped  to  secure  some  useful  information  from 
this  pair  of  men — both  of  whom,  he  realized,  were 
concerned  in  the  murder  of  the  Maharajah — and 
also  because  he  had  no  intention  of  admitting,  even 
to  them,  the  girl's  connection  with  the  crime. 
Furthermore,  the  stone  was  plainly  neither  theirs, 
hers,  nor  his  own.  He  felt  himself  the  ruby's  custo- 
dian, in  spite  of  his  wishes  in  the  matter.  He  was 
more  or  less  responsible  for  its  safety  now,  and  his 


AN  INQUISITION  129 

notions  perceptibly  stiffened  in  the  light  of  this  pres- 
ent attack. 

"  It  isn't  a  case  of  wasting  time,  unless  you  choose 
to  waste  it,"  he  informed  the  spokesman,  as  before. 
"  I  suggest  again  that  you  explain  your  meaning 
clearly.  To  what  ruby  do  you  refer  ?  " 

"  If  callin'  liars  was  polite,  I'd  prob'ly  git  on  the 
job,"  said  the  spokesman,  lighting  a  generous  match 
and  puffing  much  reek  from  his  pipe.  "  I'll  be  just 
as  plain  as  you  like.  You  won't  take  the  trouble  to 
deny,  I  prays,  that  you  recent  received  a  girl,  the 
same  bein'  sent  you  in  a  box — which  all  your  friends 
is  tellin'  pretty  plenty  ?  " 

"  Well?  " 

"  Well  now,  honor  amongst  thieves,  as  the  sayin' 
has  it,  hey?  You  swiped  the  ruby  out  of  her  shoe 
heel,  when  said  shoes  was  left  there  in  your  office. 
You  done  a  neat,  slick  job,  screwin'  the  heel  back 
on,  'cause  you  didn't  have  no  glue  and  did  have  the 
tools  in  your  desk."  He  paused  and  puffed  at  his 
pipe,  then  reached  across  and  tapped  his  captive  on 
the  knee.  "  That's  clear  and  to  the  point,  I  reckon. 
Now  I  echoes  we  want  the  stone.  No  Sunday-school 
lectures.  We — want — the — stone." 

Julian  shrugged  his  shoulders. 

"  Your  statement  is  quite  distinct.  But  do  you 
suppose,  if  I  found  a  ruby  as  you  declare,  I  would 
keep  it  in  my  possession  ?  " 

"  What's  the  answer  ? — you  done  that  very  thing. 
'Cause  why? — you're  stuck  on  the  girl,  and  want  to 
keep  her  out  of  the  law."  The  scoundrel  saw  the 


130          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

color  rise  to  Julian's  face.  "  Now  don't  git  none 
embarrassed,  or  tell  us  you  ain't,  fer  she's  sure 
some  pretty,  and  you  proved  your  feelin's  comin' 
here.  Agin,  you  ain't  blabbed  to  the  tecks.  Now 
then,  as  friend  to  friend,  ain't  I  on  ?  So  git  busy  and 
tell  us  where  it  is." 

Vail  was  silent  for  a  moment. 

"  You  got  me  here  for  this  ?  " 

"  Good  guess." 

Julian  smiled. 

"  You  ought  to  know  I  haven't  the  stone  you 
require.  You  searched  my  office  for  yourself." 

"  And  got  the  shoes,"  supplied  the  rascal,  coolly. 
"  I'd  rather  not  risk  that  often — especial  when  the 
shoes  has  been  touched.  Which  is  why  we  got  you 
here  to  save  a  raft  of  trouble.  Excuse  me  fer  bein' 
blunt  and  plain,  Mr.  Vail,  but  you're  goin'  to  open 
up  about  the  ruby  or  git  some  'steenth  degree,  with- 
out no  extry  session  of  Congress." 

The  light  in  Vail's  eyes  was  a  glitter ;  his  face  was 
like  chiseled  stone. 

"  I'm  helpless  in  your  hands,  I  am  perfectly 
aware,"  he  answered,  with  slow  deliberation.  "  Nat- 
urally you  don't  dare  make  this  a  matter  of  man 
to  man.  But,  if  you  expect  to  frighten  or  threaten 
me  into  any  part  of  your  murderous  or  thieving 
games,  you  have  made  a  mistake  in  your  man." 

The  pipe  was  lighted  anew. 

"  Just  what  I  was  afeerd  of,  a  stubborn,  die-hard 
cuss.  I'm  kind  of  sorry,  too.  You  ain't  the  sneakin' 
sort.  You'd  'a'  made  a  crook  worth  braggin'  on — if 


AN  INQUISITION  131 

you  hadn't  turned  out  wrong."  He  arose  and  ges- 
tured to  his  friend.  "  Well,  Meat-ax,  the  sooner  we 
dilute  his  nerve  the  better,  fer  I  ain't  the  heart  to 
keep  him  in  suspense." 

"  Meat-ax,"  who  might  with  propriety  have  been 
christened  "  Headsman,"  for  his  sinister  appearance, 
in  the  blackness  of  his  mask,  arose  without  delay, 
prepared  for  deeds  of  any  questionable  hue. 

Still  the  spokesman  only  spoke. 

"  Will  you  walk,  Mr.  Vail,  or  git  peevish  and 
make  us  do  the  pall-bearers'  stunt  again  ?  " 

Julian  looked  at  him  fearlessly. 

"  What  do  you  mean  to  do?  " 

"  The  'steenth  degree,  as  mentioned  previous." 
He  gave  a  quick  signal  to  his  companion  and  the 
two,  abruptly  grasping  Vail  by  the  shoulders  and 
fettered  arms,  marched  him  through  a  narrow  hall 
to  a  door  that  opened  out  to  the  grounds. 

The  moon  was  up,  but  its  light  was  obscured  by 
clouds.  The  lighted  lantern  rested  on  the  ground, 
provided  as  before  by  someone  entirely  unseen.  But, 
whereas  it  had  formerly  illuminated  the  way  inside 
the  house,  it  now  revealed  the  abysmal  door  of  a 
cellar-like  place  in  the  earth. 

A  ladder  protruded  from  the  hole,  while  an  iron 
box  and  heavy  weights  were  scattered  nearby  on  the 
grass.  A  few  feet  removed  from  the  hole  and  ladder 
was  a  sort  of  wooden  chimney,  fully  four  feet  high, 
like  the  vent  of  a  vault  beneath. 

The  group  was  halted  by  the  well.  Had  the 
slightest  opportunity  for  resistance  or  escape  been 


132          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

afforded,  Vail  would  have  battled  like  a  fiend.  His 
helplessness  was  perfectly  convincing.  Despite  his 
exceptional  courage,  he  felt  a  sinking  in  his  breast. 

"What  do  you  mean  to  do?"  he  demanded,  as 
before. 

"  Now  don't  shift  the  blame  to  us,"  beseeched  the 
spokesman,  in  an  injured  tone  of  voice.  "  You're 
doin'  this  to  yourself.  Once  more,  my  friend,  will 
you  put  us  right  on  the  ruby?  " 

Julian  boiled  as  before. 

"  I've  told  you  all  I  have  to  tell,  and  that  you  may 
take  as  final !  " 

"  Then  climb  down  the  ladder  quiet,  rememberin' 
all  of  us  is  gents." 

Julian  did  not  obey  at  once,  and  both  of  the  men, 
unceremoniously  hustling  him  forward,  bodily  placed 
him,  feet  foremost,  down  the  hole  and  lodged  him  on 
the  rungs.  Then,  quite  as  roughly,  they  crowded 
him  down  the  slanted  ladder  and  presently  shook  him 
off. 

He  fell  perhaps  three  feet,  landing  on  a  slimy 
floor  of  planks,  in  a  cistern  as  dank  and  dark  as  a 
tomb.  The  ladder  was  instantly  thrust  further  for- 
ward, till  its  top  was  caught  by  hooks  at  the  edge 
of  the  hole,  when  a  heavy  plank  door  was  flung  upon 
and  barred  across  the  orifice,  with  the  weights  all 
piled  on  its  top. 

What  futile  calls  and  demands  for  liberation 
Julian  made  on  the  impulse  of  the  moment  were 
drowned  by  the  sounds  from  above.  Except  for  a 
small,  barred  square  of  starlight,  seen  through  the 


AN  INQUISITION  133 

chimney-like  vent,  the  place  had  no  suggestion  of  a 
break  in  the  absolute  gloom. 

The  lantern  was  presently  carried  to  this  vent,  and 
its  rays  came  down  in  a  small  and  useless  square.  By 
its  feeble  illumination  Vail  confirmed  a  fear  that  the 
vent  was  barred  at  its  base.  Something  like  a  water 
mark  was  shown,  up  near  its  top. 

The  spokesman  cheerily  peered  down. 

"  I  hope  you  like  the  bathroom,  Mr.  Vail.  You're 
goin'  to  stay  there  till  you  loosen  up  on  the  gem. 
We're  about  to  leave  the  water  in  and  let  you  feel 
it  rise.  'Tain't  real  speedy — 'cept  at  the  start.  It 
comes  up  with  the  tide.  When  you  want  to  come  out 
with  the  ruby  and  all,  you  kin  let  us  know  by 
wireless." 

Vail  saw  the  lantern  disappear,  and  horrible  dark- 
ness descended  to  fill  the  place.  He  heard  a  distant 
sound,  then  the  trickle  and  gush  of  water  that  some- 
where entered  the  place.  He  presently  knelt  and  so 
put  his  hand  on  the  floor. 

His  trousers  were  suddenly  penetrated  at  the  knees. 
His  hand  met  a  thin  but  moving  sheet  of  liquid,  on 
the  planks,  and  a  chill  crept  swiftly  to  his  heart. 


CHAPTER  XVI 

A   METHOD    OF   TORTURE 

FOR  a  moment  Vail  merely  stood  stock-still, 
after  rising  to  his  feet.  The  sound  of  the  in- 
rushing  water  considerably  increased. 

Moving  quickly,  groping  over  to  the  right,  Julian 
promptly  met  a  wall.  It  was  made  of  planks,  and 
barnacles  clung  to  its  damp  and  moldy  surface.  He 
made  violent  efforts  to  wrench  his  hands  free  from 
the  ropes,  and  again  explored  forward,  wading  in 
water  already  well  up  on  his  shoes. 

His  courage  had  not  weakened,  but  his  whole 
strong  being  was  incensed  and  outraged  to  the  limit 
of  endurance.  Again  and  again  he  swelled  his 
muscles,  jerked  at  the  ropes,  and  dragged  to  escape 
from  the  coils. 

One  of  his  hands  was  working  loose,  even  as  he 
shouldered  along  the  wall,  to  a  corner  of  the  cistern. 
In  a  paroxysm  of  activity  he  presently  cast  off  the 
rope  sufficiently  to  liberate  one  hand  and  his  arm. 
He  had  come  to  another  corner  of  the  cellar.  The 
water  was  lapping  at  his  ankles. 

In  the  briefest  time  he  discovered  the  place  to  be 
the  ordinary  type  of  plank-boarded  cistern,  perhaps 
ten  feet  square,  and  less  than  eight  in  height.  He 
discovered  the  inlet  for  the  water,  and  was  somewhat 


A  METHOD  OF  TORTURE  135 

appalled  at  the  size  and  velocity  of  the  stream  that 
entered  from  without. 

He  had  uttered  no  sound  since  that  first  impulsive 
protest.  There  was  nothing  of  the  weakling  in  his 
composition,  yet  the  facts  took  a  grip  on  his  life. 

He  groped  his  way  back  to  the  ladder,  with  the 
water  swiftly  rising  to  his  ankles.  There  he  freed 
himself  completely  of  his  fetters  and  mounted  on  the 
ladder  to  the  ceiling  of  the  tomb.  The  door,  he 
promptly  discovered,  was  a  closely  fitted  mechanism, 
wedged  in  to  prevent  much  leak. 

If  for  a  moment  he  entertained  a  hope  that  the 
water  might  rise  no  higher  than,  say,  to  within  a 
foot  of  the  roof,  the  wretched  bit  of  comfort  van- 
ished as  soon  as  it  came. 

His  exploring  hand  found  colonies  of  barnacles, 
adhering  to  the  ceiling  where  nothing  save  the  brine 
of  the  sea  could  either  have  planted  or  nourished 
the  creatures.  He  knew  the  water-mark,  noted  in  the 
chimney-like  vent,  measured  the  rise  of  the  tide. 

There  was  sweat  on  his  forehead,  despite  the  chill 
of  the  dungeon,  now  flooding  from  the  bay.  He  lis- 
tened intently  for  the  men  above,  while  a  new  thought 
flashed  in  his  brain.  There  was  nothing  to  hear  save 
the  plash  of  the  entering  stream. 

He  stepped  to  a  higher  rung  of  the  ladder  that 
leaned  from  the  trap  and,  adjusting  his  shoulders 
beneath  the  wedged-in  cover,  strained  upward  with 
concentrated  might. 

He  halted  this  attempt  abruptly,  however,  for 
the  rung  where  he  stood  was  treacherously  splintered 


136          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

with  the  crushing  weight  his  effort  had  put  upon  the 
rotted  nails  and  timber.  The  door  had  not  been 
budged. 

One  horror  after  another  crept  upon  his  mind,  as 
a  clearer  comprehension  of  his  plight  thrust  ugly 
arguments  between  his  sense  of  pride  or  duty  and 
his  instinct  of  self-preservation. 

He  descended  again  to  the  floor,  to  measure  the 
water — to  measure  it  on  his  legs.  It  had  risen  half- 
way to  his  knees.  Once  more  he  went  up  on  the  lad- 
der, to  sit  there  in  the  absolute,  impenetrable  dark, 
grimly  wondering  how  long  he  might  be  obliged  to 
wait,  as  helplessly  doomed  as  a  rat  in  a  trap,  for 
the  tide  to  engulf  him  completely. 

He  was  still  far  more  angered  than  alarmed.  Fear 
had  small  place  in  his  system,  and  something  in  him, 
defiant  and  indomitable,  combatted  this  method  of 
torture  with  the  stubbornest  determination,  vaguely 
persuading  him  that  something  could  and  must  oc- 
cur to  give  him  victory  at  last. 

He  cursed  himself,  however,  for  an  easy  dupe  who 
had  been  a  mere  fool  from  the  first.  With  all  the 
evidence  accumulated  against  her,  by  her  own  admis- 
sions and  actions,  he  had  still  believed  in  the  inno- 
cence of  Barbara  Lee  with  a  blindness  that  nothing 
could  excuse.  He  banished  every  recollection  of  her 
eyes,  her  words,  the  artful  bits  of  coquetry,  and  the 
wistfulness  with  which  he  was  sure  he  had  been 
tricked. 

The  frank  admissions  made  by  the  man  who  had 
questioned  him  here  in  the  house  were  not  to  be  rea- 


A  METHOD  OF  TORTURE  137 

soned  away.  The  girl  had  been  sent  to  his  office  with 
deliberate  intent  to  land  the  gem  in  his  keeping  to 
baffle  the  law.  She  had  shown  her  concern  for  and 
worry  over  the  shoes,  without  delay.  Nothing  save 
the  accident  that  spilled  the  water  from  the  vase  had 
been  left  from  the  careful  plans  of  those  who  de- 
vised the  scheme.  And  to  all  of  the  plan  he  felt  she 
had  consented. 

His  stubbornness  now,  in  refusing  to  deliver  up 
the  stone,  was  less  and  less  a  measure  for  Barbara's 
protection  and  more  and  more  an  outraged  intention 
of  defeating  the  purposes  of  all  the  gang  and  plac- 
ing the  sinister  ruby  in  the  hands  of  the  Chief  of 
Police. 

While  he  sat  there,  for  the  time  impervious  to  any 
thought  save  that  of  his  birthday  gift  and  the  mys- 
teries since  developed,  he  was  finally  made  aware  of 
a  cold  sensation  of  chill  attacking  his  foot. 

With  a  sudden  accession  of  awe  he  realized  that 
the  water  in  the  place  had  risen  with  insidious  speed. 
It  was  lapping  at  his  feet ! 

In  a  cold  perspiration,  he  retreated  upward  an- 
other rung,  for  the  first  time  obsessed  by  thoughts 
that  the  men  who  had  slain  the  Maharajah  were  ca- 
pable of  any  manner  of  crime  and  would  show  not 
the  slightest  sign  of  mercy  if  his  silence  were  still 
maintained. 

Nevertheless,  so  galling  and  shaming  appeared  de- 
feat, so  weak  and  invertebrate  seemed  surrender,  even 
in  the  face  of  death,  that  he  could  not  consent  to  cry 
enough  and  plead  to  be  released.  Nevertheless,  it 


138          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

was  a  ghastly  thing  to  contemplate — this  steady, 
unrelenting  lap  and  rise  of  the  water,  invisibly  en- 
croaching on  his  life. 

Slowly,  on  the  surface  at  the  center  of  the  pool, 
appeared  some  ghostly  thing.  Intangible,  uncer- 
tain, suggesting  luminosity,  and  then  quite  disap- 
pearing, it  played  there  weirdly,  assuming  shapes 
that  seemed  to  break  and  dissipate,  only  to  reassem- 
ble from  the  molten  ebony  and  silently  mock  with 
forms  again. 

Vail  beheld  it,  stared  where  it  went,  and  felt  that 
his  brain  was  giving  way  and  conjuring  wraiths 
from  fear.  Then  at  last,  as  it  rose,  more  lambent 
than  before,  he  knew  it  for  some  filmy,  vague  reflec- 
tion that  stole  down  the  vent  from  the  sky.  Here 
and  there  through  the  unseen  mass  of  water,  steadily 
climbing,  came  brilliant,  fading  flashes,  like  stars  in 
miniature,  where  tiny  phosphorescent  creatures  dis- 
ported, wooing  their  microscopic  kind. 

God  only  knew  what  creatures  besides  were  gliding 
here  and  there  in  the  place.  Vail  now  put  his  hand 
downward,  and  a  prompter  contact  with  the  water 
than  he  had  expected  caused  him  to  snatch  it  back 
again  as  if  from  liquid  fire. 

What  purpose  was  he  serving  to  die  here  like  a 
beast?  He  asked  himself  this  question  savagely,  an- 
grily, confessing  he  had  no  courage  for  an  end  so 
horrible  and  purposeless. 

Perhaps,  he  reflected,  as  one  alternative,  he  might 
deceive  these  brutes  who  had  put  him  to  the  torture. 
They  deserved  any  punishment  he  could  possibly  in- 


A  METHOD  OF  TORTURE  139 

flict.  It  mattered  little  what  he  told  them,  if  only 
they  would  lift  the  door  and  let  him  out,  to  fight 
his  way  to  freedom.  He  felt  he  could  slay  them 
with  his  naked  hands,  for  the  last  few  minutes  en- 
dured in  this  place  where  death  crept  up  by  inches. 

It  was  not,  however,  till  the  water,  uncanny  and 
gruesome  in  its  rising,  soaked  once  again  through 
his  shoe  to  his  skin  that  Julian  raised  his  voice. 

"Hullo!"  he  shouted.  "You  thieves!  Hullo 
there !  Lift  up  the  door !  " 

The  men  above  had  grown  impatient,  marveling  at 
the  spirit  of  the  man  in  the  well.  They  had  remained 
near  at  hand,  silently  smoking  at  their  pipes.  The 
spokesman  now  came  to  the  vent,  down  which  his 
utterance  rumbled. 

"  Was  you  callin'  f er  soap  or  towels  ?  " 

"  Open  up ! "  shouted  Vail.  "  You  can  have  your 
cursed  stone ! " 

"  What  place  at  your  office  is  it  in?  " 

Even  now,  with  the  fellow's  voice  thus  mockingly 
in  his  ears,  Vail  resented  the  sacrifice  he  felt  con- 
strained to  make.  He  tried  an  experiment. 

"  Did  you  find  that  box  of  cigars  in  the  left-hand 
drawer  of  my  desk?  " 

"  Nuthin'  doin',"  said  the  rumbling  voice.  "  I 
didn't  think  you'd  try  to  work  us  so  shameful.  I 
dumped  them  weak-kneed  smokes,  alias  cigars,  all 
out  of  the  box  myself.  Come  on  now,  don't  fergit 
your  record  as  a  gent." 

"  I  haven't  said  it  is  in  that  box.  Will  you  open 
up  the  trap?  " 


140          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

"  You  open  yours  first.  Now  where's  the  ruby 
at?" 

Julian  felt  he  would  give  the  ransom  of  a  king 
to  get  his  two  free  hands  upon  this  rascal's  throat. 
The  water  was  lapping  at  his  ankles  as  he  sat  high 
up  on  his  perch. 

"  The  stone  is  down  in  the  bottom  of  that  big 
brass  cartridge-shell  I  use  as  a  vase  on  my  desk." 

"  By  God ! "  said  the  voice,  "  and  me  with  the 
thing  in  my  fist !  I  must  be  loosin'  my  nip,  not  to 
think  of  a  thing  like  that ! " 

Some  reply  vouchsafed  by  his  companion  made  a 
murmur  only  to  Vail. 

"  Come  on  now,  keep  your  word !  "  he  called.  "  I 
expect  you  to  be  a  man." 

A  sound  of  someone  walking  across  the  roof  of 
the  cistern  followed. 

"  Don't  fidgit,  and  don't  be  uneasy,"  said  the 
spokesman,  at  the  vent.  "  We're  shuttin'  off  the 
pickle.  You'll  hear  it  quit  runnin'  right  away." 

Julian's  impatience  increased. 

"  You  keep  your  promise !  Never  mind  the  wa- 
ter !  Open  the  door !  " 

The  man  above  lit  a  match  to  apply  to  his  pipe. 

"  We'll  open  the  door  and  let  you  out — when  we 
git  the  word  the  ruby's  where  you  say.  Ain't  you 
comfortable,  sittin'  high  and  dry  on  the  ladder? 
Can't  kick,  can  you? — nuthin'  worth  recordin'  on  the 
minutes  of  the  meetin'  ?  " 

A  new,  swift  chill  went  coursing  through  Julian's 
veins. 


A  METHOD  OF  TORTURE  141 

"  Let  me  out !  "  he  demanded,  angrily.  "  Keep 
your  bargain  and  let  me  out ! " 

"  Huh !  "  exclaimed  the  astonished  criminal.  "  You 
couldn't  keep  cool  in  an  ice-house,  not  to  say  nuthin' 
of  hell.  Now  take  my  advice  and  don't  keep  up  your 
fever.  Jest  make  up  the  berth  and  git  a  little  sleep. 
We'll  call  you  in  the  mornin'." 

Julian  shouted  to  him  desperately,  as  he  heard 
him  moving  away.  There  was  no  response  from  the 
vent.  A  dread,  unearthly  silence  had  settled  in  the 
place,  where  the  sound  of  entering  water  gradually 
diminished,  then  altogether  ceased. 

In  the  utter  futility  of  raging,  or  heaving  with 
his  shoulders  at  the  trap,  Vail  felt  a  sickening  sen- 
sation of  desertion  pervade  him  through  and 
through. 

The  thing  he  might  have  expected,  yet  against 
which  he  had  from  the  first  been  powerless,  had  ac- 
tually come  to  pass.  He  was  prisoned  here  in  the 
more  than  half-filled  cistern,  to  escape — the  Lord 
knew  how !  To  wait  here,  cramped  on  the  ladder, 
while  these  thieves  and  cutthroats  returned  to  the 
shore,  made  their  way  to  the  city,  and  verified  his 
confession  might  be  but  a  sentence  of  death. 

He  could  scarcely  credit  his  senses,  scarcely  be- 
lieve that  two  human  beings  could  be  so  lost  to  com- 
passion as  to  leave  him  in  such  a  plight.  He  felt 
convinced  they  must  presently  relent  and  give  him  a 
chance  for  his  life.  They  had  shown  some  slight 
inclinations  towards  decency  and  mercy  in  shutting 
out  the  tide.  They  must  come  back,  if  only  to  lift 


THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

off  some  of  the  weights  and  make  it  possible  for  his 
own  endeavors  to  heave  away  the  door! 

He  held  his  breath  expectantly,  harking  for  sounds 
from  above.  There  were  none  that  his  ear  could 
distinguish,  beyond  a  ringing  in  the  well.  Now  and 
again  some  drip  of  water  fell  from  the  roof,  its 
metallic  note  ringing  clearly,  like  a  tinkle  in  a  cave. 

At  last  a  strange,  pulsating  whisper  impinged 
upon  the  air,  coming,  so  far  as  Vail  could  judge, 
from  the  water's  entering  tubs. 

He  recognized  it  abruptly  with  another  sinking 
of  his  heart.  It  was  the  muffled  exhaust  of  a  motor 
boat,  retreating  out  on  the  bay. 

The  faint  percussions  grew  more  faint — and  he 
kmew  the  men  were  embarked  for  the  distant  shore. 

His  ray  of  hope  was  suddenly  extinguished.  He 
only  recovered  from  the  shock  when  he  found  his 
foot  intensely  cold.  He  had  held  it  in  the  water 
while  engrossed  with  other  affairs.  He  drew  it  up 
a  matter  of  several  inches,  while  a  clammy  feeling, 
such  as  one  might  experience  upon  being  buried 
alive,  ate  its  way  to  the  marrow  of  his  bones. 

How  long  he  sat  there,  straining  his  ears  in  the 
silence,  the  man  could  never  have  told.  He  was 
roused  at  last  by  the  coldness  of  both  of  his  feet. 

They  were  both  once  more  in  the  water. 

Then  a  horrible  truth  flashed  hideously  upon  him. 
The  water  was  leaking  in!  It  had  not  been  shut  offk 
completely — and  the  men  had  gone  away! 


CHAPTER  XVH 

A    CREEPING   DEATH 

THE  inescapable  realization  that,  instead  of  en- 
tering rapidly  to  end  his  doom  in  reason,  the 
tide  was  trickling  to  the  well,  to  edge  like  disease 
to  his  heart,  was  absolutely  insupportable  to  the  man 
already  fiendishly  tortured. 

Vail  saw  himself,  in  his  imagination,  driven  up  and 
up  on  the  ladder,  all  but  his  head  at  last  submerged, 
and  his  air-demanding  lips  and  nose  pressed  up  to 
the  final  hollow  in  the  ceiling,  to  be  finally  covered 
by  the  tide. 

He  tried  to  believe  he  had  deceived  himself,  that 
the  water  had  not  increased  its  depth,  but  that  his 
feet  had  slipped  carelessly  down.  In  the  absolute 
darkness  of  the  hole  he  could  make  no  measurements. 
He  felt  down  the  side  of  the  ladder  till  the  tip  of  his 
longest  finger  barely  touched  the  surface  of  the 
brine. 

He  held  it  there  like  a  fixture,  waiting,  while  he 
barely  took  his  breath.  In  the  course  of  perhaps 
ten  minutes  the  water  rose  to  cover  his  finger-nail. 

He  did  not  remove  his  hand.  He  clung  to  some 
mad,  impossible  hope  with  breathless  desperation. 
Another  ten  minutes  brought  the  touch  of  death  to 
the  joint  above  the  nails. 

148 


144          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

He  suppressed  a  groan  and  tried  another  system, 
placing  his  hand  an  inch  above  the  water,  and  grip- 
ping the  ladder  as  before.  In  a  time  that  in  some 
ways  seemed  an  age  and  in  others  a  tick  of  the  clock 
of  doom,  the  cold,  wet  caress  was  floated  to  his 
flesh. 

After  that  it  was  one  long  nightmare  of  cold 
perspiring.  The  water  came  so  high  at  last  he  could 
no  longer  raise  his  feet  above  it.  Wavelets  and  rip- 
ples then  lapped  unhurriedly  up  to  the  rung  whereon 
he  sat. 

Like  a  stone  man,  chilled  and  immobile,  he  finally 
crouched  on  the  ladder's  top  with  the  water  rising 
to  his  chest.  The  ghosts  of  light  and  phosphorescent 
gleams  played  soullessly  in  the  ebon  mass  that  gradu- 
ally rose  towards  his  lips. 

It  seemed  as  if  great  ages  of  time  had  stretched 
their  hours  beyond  all  earthly  custom  and  blotted 
all  sound  from  the  world.  Then  something  again  be- 
sieged his  brain,  like  the  far-off  voice  of  a  star. 

He  felt  it  was  not  a  sound  he  heard,  but  his  own 
inner  wish  for  a  sound.  Anything  to  break  this 
frightful  silence  would  be  welcome,  even  the  crack 
of  doom. 

He  bent  every  faculty,  to  catch  the  faintest  filter- 
ing of  sound  the  outside  world  might  surrender. 
Something,  he  felt  almost  certain,  disturbed  the  air, 
with  the  feeblest  of  wave  pulsations. 

He  shouted  with  all  his  might. 

"  Hullo !     Hullo !     Hullo !  " 

The  condensed  reverberations  in  the  filling  place 


A  CREEPING  DEATH  145 

rolled  painfully  back  upon  his  ears.  He  listened  as 
before.  There  was  no  reply.  The  water  had  crept 
so  high  by  now  that  the  merest  foot  of  air  remained 
above  it  in  the  hole. 

He  felt  he  was  mocked  by  heaven  and  the  night, 
in  his  wild,  fierce  hope  for  a  sound.  Then  it  came 
again,  in  a  vague,  strange  way,  conveying  no  mean- 
ing to  his  mind. 

Again  as  before  he  shouted,  and  his  voice  sped 
out  at  the  vent. 

"  Julian  !  Julian  !  "  came  a  cry — then  someone  ran 
over  the  roof. 

His  heart  nearly  burst  with  sudden  relief  and  its 
conflict  of  emotions.  The  cry  was  in  Barbara's 
voice. 

"  Barbara !  Here !  "  he  called,  excitedly.  "  In 
the  cistern !  Pry  open  the  door !  " 

She  had  gone  quite  past,  but  returned  at  once  and 
ran  to  the  wooden  vent. 

"  Down  there  ?  "  she  cried,  in  a  shrill  and  quivering 
treble.  "  Julian,  are  you  there?  " 

"  For  God's  sake,  hasten !  "  he  replied.  "  The  wa- 
ter is  up  to  my  throat !  The  door — the  door — with 
the  weights  on  top !  I  can  help  if  you'll  knock  out 
the  bar!" 

She  waited  for  nothing  more.  Exhausted  by  her 
midnight  tussle  with  a  boat  far  too  heavy  for  her 
strength,  disheartened,  frightened,  even  terrified  by 
every  moment  passed  in  rowing  to  the  place,  she 
nevertheless  attacked  the  weights  on  the  trap  like  a 
fierce  little  engine  of  might. 


146          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

They  were  bulky  hunks  of  iron — pieces  of  an- 
chors, an  old  ship's  screw,  and  rail  from  some  dis- 
tant tracks.  With  strength  superhuman,  in  this 
moment  of  need,  she  tugged  at  the  inert  masses  till 
her  very  spirit  might  have  been  strained  with  the 
energy  she  spent. 

One  and  another  of  the  inert  things  she  dragged 
or  toppled  from  the  door.  She  flung  out  the  bar 
like  a  little  elemental  savage. 

"  They're  nearly  all  off ! "  she  cried,  at  last,  and 
then  Vail  heaved  it  from  below. 

"  Look  out !  "  he  shouted,  as  he  felt  it  give.  "  I'll 
have  no  trouble  now !  " 

She  stepped  away,  panting  and  suddenly  weak, 
with  her  labor  at  last  accomplished.  She  tripped  on 
one  of  the  weights  dislodged,  and  went  down  on 
the  earth  with  a  sob  of  relief,  as  Julian,  dripping  and 
white  as  death,  rose  out  of  the  hole  in  the  moonlight 
like  one  who  has  broken  from  his  grave. 

He  reeled  from  weakness,  cramp,  and  chill,  but 
would  not  submit  to  fall.  Barbara  leaped  to  her 
feet  again,  and  caught  at  his  arm  to  support  him. 

"  Oh !  "  she  said.  "  Oh !  I  thought  I'd  never  find 
the  place ! " 

He  staggered  over  against  the  house  and  leaned 
there  heavily.  Despite  his  numbness  and  the  half- 
chilled  blood  in  his  veins,  he  felt  some  sweet  de- 
lirium of  joy  expanding  in  his  breast.  He  took  no 
time  to  accuse  or  acquit  the  girl  who  stood  before 
him.  She  had  come — that  was  enough. 

"  Good  Heavens,  Barbara,"  he  finally  said,  in  a 


A  CREEPING  DEATH  147 

voice  made  weak  by  reactions,  "  how  did  this  ever 
happen?  How  did  you  come?  How  did  you  know 
I  was  here  ?  " 

She  felt  she  could  sink  on  the  ground  at  last,  now 
that  the  strain  was  over.  She,  too,  was  white  and 
trembling. 

"  I  have  been  for  hours  locked  up  in  a  room  over 
there  on  the  shore !  I  heard  them  planning,  telling 
it  all,  from  the  closet  in  the  place.  I  broke  out  some 
of  the  plaster — and  it  made  the  partition  thin.  I 
knew  there  was  something  going  on.  Oh,  I  didn't 
know  what  to  do !  " 

Julian  was  pulling  himself  together. 

"You  rowed  here  alone,  in  a  boat?" 

"  Oh,  yes !  I  suppose  I  stole  it !  But  what  could 
I  do?  They  told  about  this  awful  cellar,  but  I  didn't 
understand.  They  told  how  to  find  this  island — and 

I've  rowed — and  my  hands I  thought  I  should 

have  to  give  up  !  " 

Even  in  the  moonlight  the  blisters  on  her  two  lit- 
tle palms  were  plain  enough  to  see.  Vail  could  have 
crushed  them  with  his  lips.  But  the  needs  of  the 
hour  were  great  and  escape  was  imperative  for  both. 

"  Nothing  on  earth  could  have  saved  my  life  but 
you,"  he  told  her,  fervently.  "  Where  did  you  land 
your  boat  ?  " 

"  Right  over  there — somewhere,"  she  said,  already 
confused  by  directions.  "  I  don't  think  I  tied  it 
very  well." 

"  Then  show  me  where,"  said  Julian.  "  The  tide 
might  float  it  off." 


148          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

They  started  at  once  for  the  bit  of  beach  where 
Barbara  had  landed.  They  missed  the  place,  but 
continued  on,  passing  two  or  three  similar  beaches. 
When  they  came  to  the  harborage  Barbara  had 
chosen,  the  boat  was  not  to  be  seen.  The  rising  tide 
had  already  filched  it  from  the  sands. 

She  was  not  at  all  certain  of  the  place.  Not  until 
they  had  traversed  all  that  eastern  shore  of  the  island 
was  the  truth  made  inescapable. 

"  I've  lost  it — I  know  I've  lost  it !  "  moaned  Bar- 
bara, in  despair.  "  I  didn't  dare  to  wait  to  tie  it 
better ! " 

Julian  took  her  by  the  arm. 

"  Never  mind ;  perhaps  we  can  find  another.  They 
may  have  left  the  one  that  brought  me  out."  He 
led  her  back  towards  the  house. 

"  You  ought  to  do  something  to  dry  your 
clothes,"  she  told  him,  anxiously.  "  Perhaps  we  can 
build  a  fire." 

"  I  shall  soon  be  all  right — the  wind  is  warm," 
he  answered,  still  marveling  at  what  she  had  done. 
"  Some  good  stiff  exercise  is  all  I  need,  and  I'll  get 
it — if  we  find  any  sort  of  a  boat.  If  you  wouldn't 
mind  resting  at  the  house " 

"  Oh,  I  couldn't  rest — I  mean  not  all  alone ! 
Couldn't  I  help  to  look  around,  with  you? "  she 
pleaded.  "  I'm  afraid  I'm  a  little  bit  nervous." 

A  little  bit  nervous!  He  thought  her  wonderful, 
the  bravest,  stanchest  little  comrade  he  had  ever 
known  in  the  world !  She  had  ample  cause  to  fear  or 
dread  the  dark  and  silent  house,  after  what  she  had 


A  CREEPING  DEATH  149 

undergone.  He  knew  that,  like  himself,,  she  must 
have  experienced  some  ordeal  to  rack  her  inmost 
nerve. 

It  was  no  time  for  arguments  or  questions.  He 
wanted  her  just  as  she  was — at  his  side,  trusting  her 
safety  to  his  strength.  He  felt  he  should  want  her 
always  thus,  so  vast  was  the  love  that  had  once  more 
surged  upon  him. 

That  a  hundred  things  remained  to  be  explained 
was  a  fact  he  avoided  by  choice.  It  must  all  be 
postponed  for  the  moment,  in  their  vastly  greater 
need  to  effect  an  escape  to  the  shore. 

"  If  you  wish  it,"  he  said,  "  we  will  search  the 
island  together.  If  we  do  not  come  upon  a  boat — 
but  we  must — we  simply  must !  " 

He  led  her  past  the  front  of  the  house,  where  win- 
dows that  were  dark  and  broken  stared  blankly  down 
in  the  moonlight  like  the  structure's  forbidding  eyes. 
They  came  at  length  to  the  channel  where  Pierce  had 
approached  with  the  tide.  There  was  nothing  there, 
as  Julian  had  feared.  The  spot,  however,  aroused 
his  resentment  and  a  query  to  his  mind. 

"  Of  course  you  couldn't  have  wired  me,  Bar- 
bara," he  said.  "  The  message  I  got  was  a  forgery, 
sent  in  your  name." 

"  Why,  I  couldn't  send  anything — I'd  have  been 
so  glad  of  a  chance,"  she  answered  at  once.  "  You 
came  here  on  a  telegram  supposed  to  be  sent  by 
me?  " 

"  I  landed  just  here,"  he  answered.  "  I'm  rather 
in  hopes  their  boat  is  somewhere  near." 


150          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

"  Who  were  the  men?  "  she  asked  him.  "  Did  you 
see — would  you  know  them  again  ?  " 

"  They  were  masked,  disguised.  There !  Is  that 
a  boat  or  a  log?  " 

They  hastened  along  the  moonlit  beach,  parting 
the  sumach  for  the  purpose,  only  to  find  that  a  half- 
buried  log  had  aroused  a  false  hope  by  its  form. 
Vail  was  convinced  they  would  find  no  boat  about 
the  place. 

He  held  a  little  more  firmly  to  Barbara's  arm  as 
they  came  to  rougher  walking  and,  save  for  the  dis- 
appointments met  at  the  tin^bays,  could  have  blessed 
the  night  that  had  brought  her  here,  despite  the 
haunting,  persistent  facts  that  lay  beneath  it  all. 

The  island  was  insignificant,  perhaps  three  acres 
in  extent.  Besides  the  empty,  dilapidated  house, 
there  were  several  smaller  buildings,  all  at  the 
farther  end.  When  the  shore  had  finally  been  cir- 
cumscribed, to  no  avail,  the  one  remaining  hope  of 
a  boat  was  in  some  of  these  sheds  and  shacks. 

With  a  steadily  increasing  anxiety,  concentrating 
rapidly  on  Barbara  and  the  need  for  taking  her  back 
to  proper  surroundings,  Vail  led  the  search  to  one 
and  another  of  the  wretched  sheds,  to  find  them  in- 
variably empty. 

The  last  frail  hope  was  gone.  They  stood  there 
alone  in  the  moonlight,  and  the  truth  came  home  to 
them  both. 

.They  were  helplessly  marooned  on  the  island,  with 
no  possible  means  of  escape. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 

LIKE  A   PBIMITIVE   PAIR 

VAIL  had  been  no  quicker  than  Barbara  to  re- 
alize the  facts  confronting  them  here.    He  was 
far  more  grim  than  she,  for  he  was  far  less  weary. 

Despite  his  fearful  ordeal  in  the  cistern,  he  was 
rapidly  regaining  his  normal  warmth  and  strength. 
Barbara,  on  the  other  hand,  was  thoroughly  ex- 
hausted, not  only  by  her  long,  excited  vigil  in  the 
room  where  she  had  been  imprisoned,  but  infinitely 
more  by  her  struggle  with  the  boat  to  bring  it  at  last 
to  her  goal. 

She  had  never  felt  so  great  a  need  for  a  strong, 
protecting  arm  on  which  to  sink.  She  could  barely 
remain  on  her  feet.  Yet  she  looked  in  his  face  and 
attempted  a  brave  little  smile. 

"  And  now  what  shall  we  do  ?  " 

Julian  felt  the  noblest  impulses  of  his  nature  stir 
as  he  gazed  in  her  trusting  eyes. 

"  We'll  go  to  the  house.  Perhaps  I  can  make  you 
comfortable,  while  Fm  drying  out,  here  in  the 
breeze." 

"Oh,  but— couldn't  we  build  a  little  fire,"  she 
said,  "  and  sit  there  beside  it  a  while  ?  The  house 
may  be  damp — and  unpleasant." 

151 


152          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

"  You're  not  afraid  of  an  empty  house — not  after 
what  you've  done?  It's  your  castle,  you  know,  to- 
night." 

She  understood  him  perfectly,  and  loved  him  anew 
for  the  delicate  thoughtfulness  by  which  she  felt 
she  was  surrounded.  Yet  she  did  not  overcome  her 
dread  of  the  inhospitable  "  castle." 

"  Will  you  make  a  little  fire  to  warm  us  first  ? — 
just  the  littlest  bit  of  a  fire." 

"  If  I  can  find  a  match  that's  dry."  He  led  her 
through  the  shrubbery,  silvered  by  the  moon,  to- 
wards the  one  lone  tree  of  the  island,  standing  at 
the  rear  of  the  house. 

They  passed  the  buried  cistern,  where  Julian 
halted,  perforce.  Already  the  water  had  risen  above 
the  rim  of  the  door  and  was  flooding  the  hollow  in 
the  soil.  A  shudder  passed  through  his  frame  as 
he  conjured  up  a  picture  of  himself,  with  a  death 
grip  on  the  ladder,  stark  and  cold  beneath  the 
weighted  trap,  but  for  Barbara,  now  at  his  side. 

"  They  had  a  lamp  and  a  lantern,"  he  informed 
her,  proceeding  on  as  before.  "  There  may  be  some 
matches  I  can  find." 

Barbara  waited  beside  the  door  while  he  groped 
his  way  into  the  house.  She  had  never  felt  so  tired 
in  her  life — and  never  more  happy.  She  could  not 
feel  the  slightest  fear,  nor  banish  from  her  eager 
heart  the  wild,  sweet  joyance  that  the  night  and 
Julian  excited.  She  would  gladly  have  sunk  on  the 
fragrant  grass  in  sleep,  so  long  as  she  knew  he  was 
near. 


LIKE  A  PRIMITIVE  PAIR  153 

She  presently  saw  the  gleam  of  a  match  where 
Julian  lighted  the  lamp.  Then  he  presently  re- 
turned. 

"  I  think  you'd  be  far  more  comfortable,"  he  said, 
"  if  you'll  take  possession  of  the  house." 

She  smiled  as  before. 

"  If  it  will  please  you — after  just  a  few  minutes 
of  the  fire." 

What  madness  and  tenderness  and  holy  joy  were 
leaping  in  his  veins !  She  helped  him  to  gather  weeds 
and  twigs,  then  bits  of  board  and  water-rounded 
blocks  for  a  blaze  beneath  the  tree. 

"  You  ought  to  sleep  in  the  warmth  of  this,"  she 
told  him,  when  at  length  the  blaze  was  sparkling  and 
leaping  from  the  fuel.  "  You  can't  dry  in  any 
other  way." 

"  All  right,"  he  agreed.  "  Sit  down  with  your 
back  to  the  tree,  for  just  a  few  minutes  before  you 
retire  to  '  Castle  Silence.' ' 

She  smilingly  obeyed,  a  delicious  sense  of  peace, 
security,  and  warmth  pervading  all  her  being.  Never 
had  night  seemed  half  so  beautiful,  or  the  cricket's 
song  so  soothing  to  her  heart. 

She  was  dreaming  still,  of  fairy  comforts  and  of 
knights  of  old,  when  she  slipped  into  visionless  slum- 
ber. She  was  resting  like  a  tired  child,  asleep  against 
the  tree. 

Julian  silently  nodded.  He  had  seen  the  drooping 
of  her  eyes.  How  helpless  and  girlish  she  was,  with 
the  glow  of  the  flames  upon  her  face !  Such  a  ten- 
derness and  exaltation  of  love  as  he  had  never 


154          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

dreamed  existed  burned  as  divinely  in  his  breast  as 
the  flame  of  an  altar  lamp. 

Despite  the  exquisite  rapture  of  gazing  on  her 
helpless  loveliness,  he  presently  rose  from  his  place 
by  the  fire  and  went  to  the  house,  where  he  had  pre- 
viously discovered  a  tumble-down  couch.  This  he 
prepared  as  best  he  might  to  receive  her  for  the 
night. 

He  also  set  the  lamp  to  give  her  guidance,  and, 
coming  again  to  the  slumbering  girl,  gently  shook 
her  and  called  on  her  name. 

"  Come,  come,  little  friend,  you're  cheating,"  he 
said,  when  at  length  her  eyes  were  opened.  And 
longing  to  take  her  like  a  child  in  his  arms,  to 
carry  her  into  the  house,  he  merely  assisted  her 
up  to  her  feet,  and  steadied  her  over  to  the 
door. 

She  was  drowsily  weak,  and  could  barely  walk,  but 
sighed  with  a  sweet  content,  pausing  in  the  entrance 
to  lean  for  a  moment  against  the  lintel  and  meet  his 
ardent  gaze. 

"  King  Arthur,  may  I  leave  the  door  open  ?  "  she 
requested.  "  Then  I  wouldn't  be  the  littlest  bit 
afraid." 

"  The  castle  is  yours,"  he  answered.  "  I  turn  here 
and  wish  you  good-night." 

"  Good-night,"  she  said,  sleepily.  "  Don't  forget 
to  keep  up  your  fire." 

He  watched  her  walk  unsteadily  in  and  disappear 
beyond.  The  lamp  she  permitted  to  burn. 

Back  to  his  fire  he  turned  like  one  in  a  dream. 


LIKE  A  PRIMITIVE  PAIR  155 

The  island,  that  an  hour  before  had  been  a  hor- 
rible Inferno,  was  an  Eden  to  him  now.  He 
gazed  at  the  flames  like  a  happy  boy,  then  set 
about  to  gather  wood  like  the  veriest  primitive 
man. 

At  length  he  sat  down  with  his  back  to  the  tree 
where  Barbara  had  napped.  He  fell  asleep  as  she 
had  done,  from  exhaustion  and  content.  From 
time  to  time,  the  long  hours  through,  he  awoke 
to  wonder  where  he  was.  And,  beholding  the 
glow  of  Barbara's  lamp — a  luminous  sign  of 
his  holy  grail — he  returned  to  his  slumbers  with 
a  smile. 

Nevertheless,  he  was  stiff  and  cold  when  the  dawn 
light  aroused  him  at  last.  He  shivered  like  a  Rip 
Van  Winkle,  vitalized  in  ancient  limbs  by  the  touch 
of  a  new-made  morning. 

He  arose  unsteadily,  rubbing  at  his  eyes  as  if  to 
dissipate  a  world  of  unreality.  But  the  scene  was 
real  enough,  and  the  whole  experience  rushed  back 
upon  him  swiftly. 

The  ashes  of  his  fire  were  gray  and  cold.  His 
clothing  was  far  from  dry.  He  shook  himself,  to 
conjure  back  his  warmth  and  to  rouse  his  faculties. 
Barbara's  lamp,  he  then  observed,  still  cast  a  glow 
on  the  inner  walls  of  the  house.  He  knew  she  con- 
tinued asleep. 

All  the  unsolved  problems  of  the  previous  evening 
revived  to  confront  him  anew.  What  should  he  do 
to  appease  their  hunger,  and  to  gain  the  distant 
shore?  When  Barbara  had  last  partaken  of  food 


156          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

he  had  not  inquired  in  the  night;  he  himself  was 
nearly  famished. 

That  the  house  contained  no  provisions  he  was 
certain.  The  prospect  of  fasting  till  they  reached 
the  shore  was  not  to  be  escaped. 

He  examined  his  watch.  It  had  stopped.  Not 
only  had  water  doubtless  entered  the  movement,  but 
he  had  failed  to  wind  it  in  the  night.  He  guessed 
the  hour  at  something  like  five  in  the  morning — and 
a  maddening  desire  for  a  pot  of  coffee,  piping  hot, 
accentuated  his  hunger. 

In  the  hope  that  during  the  search  at  midnight  he 
and  Barbara  might  have  overlooked  important  nooks 
or  beaches,  he  started  briskly  on  another  quest  for 
a  boat.  He  skirted  the  rim  of  the  island  rapidly, 
taking  no  time  to  rejoice  in  the  beauties  of  the  land, 
sky,  and  water,  which  at  a  time  more  leisurely  must 
have  charmed  his  every  sense.  Though  he  made  an 
especial  search  for  mussels,  clams,  or  oysters,  not 
one  did  the  island's  beach  afford. 

Far  off  in  one  direction  he  could  see  another  dot 
of  greenery  doubtless  similar  to  this.  A  low,  flat 
shore  was  visible  for  many  miles,  but  apparently 
without  a  village  in  all  the  panorama.  And  not  a 
sail  nor  a  funnel  did  he  find  on  all  the  wide  horizon. 
The  place  was  incredibly  isolated,  a  fact  that  doubt- 
less accounted  for  its  desertion,  after  much  expendi- 
ture to  make  it  a  summer  home. 

More  important  than  all  this  business,  however, 
was  the  total  absence  of  a  boat  to  aid  their  escape. 
Once  again,  as  in  the  night,  he  made  a  search  of 


LIKE  A  PRIMITIVE  PAIR  157 

the  outbuildings,  open  to  the  weather.  Beyond  a 
few  old  planks,  which  even  to  his  desperate  ingenuity 
suggested  only  material  for  a  fire,  they  yielded  noth- 
ing new. 

The  matter  began  to  assume  a  serious  aspect  that 
brought  an  added  alarm.  He  and  Barbara  might 
possibly  be  stranded  here  till  they  died.  Suspicions 
that  the  scoundrels  who  had  put  him  in  the  cistern 
would  never  return  to  assist  him  out  were  more  than 
suggested  to  his  mind.  If  no  one  came  there  in  pur- 
suit of  Barbara,  the  island  might  be  un visited  for 
many  weeks  at  a  time.  And  he  himself  had  left  no 
word  whereby  he  might  be  traced. 

Sooner  than  perish,  he  told  himself,  he  would  tear 
down  all  the  flimsy  sheds  and  spike  the  boards  to- 
gether for  a  raft.  In  one  building  a  rude  sort  of 
loft  had  been  constructed,  where  junk  had  appar- 
ently been  thrown.  The  place  had  manifestly  been 
the  boathouse  once,  since  broken  oars,  old  bits  of 
canvas,  rotting  rope,  and  paint  cans  with  brushes 
hardened  in  the  solid  stuff  they  still  contained,  were 
piled  in  the  loft  and  strewn  upon  the  floor. 

More  thoroughly  to  investigate  this  dunnage, 
Vail  brought  in  a  box  and  clambered  to  the  over- 
loaded platform.  It  promptly  gave  way  beneath  his 
weight.  With  a  sounding  crash  the  entire  loft  was 
rent  and  crumpled  from  its  place.  It  spilled  out 
everything  it  held — its  dust,  old  cordage,  cans,  and 
broken  spars,  and  a  flattened  canvas  parcel,  tied  with 
rope. 

Julian  leaped  for  a  beam  that  crossed  above  the 


158          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

planks,  clinging  there  above  the  confusion  and  clouds 
of  dust  till  he  could  drop  straight  down  in  safety. 
This  he  presently  accomplished;  then,  in  curiosity, 
dragged  out  to  the  light  the  tied-up  parcel  of 
canvas. 

It  was  a  folding  canvas  boat.  This  and  the  fact 
that  it  was  old,  badly  worn,  and  minus  stays  and 
braces  he  had  barely  discovered  when  Barbara  came 
running  to  the  place.  She  had  heard  the  crash  when 
his  weight  brought  down  the  loft. 

He  paused  to  greet  her  happily,  the  vision  of  her 
early  morning  beauty  incredibly  reinspiring  to  all 
his  hopes  in  the  final  triumph  of  love.  No  sea 
nymph,  wood  sprite,  or  island  queen  could  have 
seemed  more  dainty  or  appropriate,  or  so  gifted  with 
helpful  courage. 

"  What  have  you  found  ?  "  she  promptly  inquired, 
when  his  cheery  greeting  had  been  answered.  "  It 
isn't  one  of  those  collapsible  canoes?" 

"  Something  of  that  description,"  he  assured  her. 
"  But  whether  anything  by  way  of  braces  will  make 
it  serviceable  or  not  is  rather  dubious." 

She  assisted  at  once  to  straighten  it  out,  and 
watched  him  eagerly. 

"  It's  something  anyway,  isn't  it?  "  she  said.  "  It's 
worth  attempting  to  repair?  " 

He  smiled.    "  I've  got  to  make  a  try." 

"  If  I  could  only  get  your  breakfast  while  you 
work !  "  she  said.  "  Do  you  think  it  barely  possible 
there  is  anything  I  could  cook?" 

The  brightest  of  pleasure's  beams  were  in  his  eyes. 


LIKE  A  PRIMITIVE  PAIR  159 

"  There's  plenty  of  fine  fresh  air."  He  could  al- 
most have  wished  they  two  were  actually  cast  away 
upon  a  desert  island — if  just  everything  were 
right. 

A  flush  of  exquisite  color  crept  to  her  cheeks  as 
she  lost  her  gaze  in  his.  Then  she  glanced  away 
towards  the  house. 

"  I  haven't  hunted  thoroughly,  while  you  were  up 
and  doing  all  these  things.  I  might  find  something, 
after  all.  I'm  going  to  see." 

He  dropped  his  end  of  the  boat. 

"  Wait,  we'll  hunt  together." 

But  the  search  availed  them  nothing.  If  the  men 
who  had  been  here  waiting  for  Vail  had  provided 
themselves  with  anything  to  eat,  there  was  nothing 
to  show  for  it  now.  It  was  equally  certain  the  house 
had  contained  nothing  edible  before  their  advent 
that  would  save  the  life  of  a  mouse.  A  well  of 
good  water  near  the  door  afforded  a  drink  from 
a  can. 

"  The  one  thing  to  do,"  said  Vail,  at  last,  "  is  to 
mend  that  boat,  if  practicable,  and  get  to  the  nearest 
help." 

The  doubts  that  Barbara  entertained  were  mani- 
fested now,  as  they  returned  to  the  canvas  boat. 

"  Suppose  it  should  only  hold  one  ?  It  doesn't 
seem  large  or  very  strong.  If  you  had  to  go  alone, 
you  would  try  to  hurry  back?" 

He  looked  at  her  steadily. 

"  Would  you  be  brave  enough  to  wait?  " 

"What  else  could  I  do?" 


160          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

"  It's  large  enough  for  two,  I'm  sure  of  that," 
he  told  her,  reassuringly.  "  The  problem  is  to  brace 
it  up  and  make  it  hold  anything  at  all." 

"  I  know  I  can  help,"  she  told  him.  "  Just  tell  me 
what  to  do." 

There  was  ample  employment  for  them  both.  Vail 
cut  the  first  of  the  slender,  pliant  braces  he  should 
need,  using  his  knife  on  the  suitable  shrubs  and  trim- 
ming each  slip  of  its  branches.  Barbara  then  suc- 
ceeded to  this  portion  of  the  labor,  while  Julian 
lashed  the  ribs  in  place  with  bits  of  cord  and 
rope. 

It  was  not  a  short  or  easy  task  to  wet  and  force 
the  old  misshapen  mass  of  canvas  back  to  the  lines 
on  which  it  had  been  designed.  It  required  bracing 
from  end  to  end  and  across  every  foot  of  its  width. 
Where  the  wrinkles  had  been  for  unrecorded  months 
the  material  was  weak.  What  ropes  and  cords  the 
former  boathouse  supplied  were  frequently  useless 
from  decay. 

Barbara  plied  the  half-dulled  knife  till  her  hands 
were  blistered  anew.  Her  muscles  ached,  her  arms 
were  scratched  and  bruised.  Nevertheless,  she  con- 
tinued her  part  with  a  blithesomeness  of  spirit  and 
an  earnestness  of  purpose  that  only  real  joy  could 
sustain.  As  a  matter  of  fact  both  she  and  Vail  were 
inordinately  happy.  For  at  least  the  hour  they  were 
helpmates,  Fate's  castaways,  flung  here  alone  on  an 
island  where  each  was  indispensable  to  the  life  and 
well-being  of  the  other.  Moreover,  the  sun  was 
warm,  the  air  was  sweet,  and  the  primitive  tang  of 


LIKE  A  PRIMITIVE  PAIR  161 

earth  and  sea  was  stirring  the  blood  of  their 
pulses. 

Back  and  forth,  from  the  shrubs  to  the  boat,  Bar- 
bara gladly  sped.  She  gave  the  product  of  her  la- 
bor to  the  man,  and  their  eyes  and  fingers  met.  Her 
nature  rejoiced  at  the  skill  and  strength  his  hands 
were  displaying  as  he  wrought.  She  marveled  at  the 
cleverness,  dexterity,  and  cunning  exemplified  as  he 
forced  the  stiff  and  wrinkled  material  back  to  the 
shape  he  desired. 

They  worked  there  for  hours  together,  sometimes 
silently,  both  engrossed,  and  sometimes  with  helpful 
words.  But  whether  they  spoke  or  exchanged  no 
speech,  the  deep,  overmastering  current  of  something 
too  vast  for  expression  or  even  understanding  swept 
them  ecstatically  onward,  forgetful  of  all  the  fevered 
world. 

It  was  nearing  noon  when  at  length  Vail  an- 
nounced he  could  do  no  more  for  the  craft.  What 
he  had  by  then  was  a  stoutly  braced  and  stiffened 
framework  of  good  tough  withes  over  which  the 
canvas  was  fairly  well  shaped  and  stretched.  This 
he  was  readily  enabled  to  carry  to  the  shore,  that 
was  barely  a  stone's  toss  away. 

Two  of  the  broken  oars,  afforded  by  the  mass  of 
junk,  he  selected  for  use  as  paddles.  Then  with  a 
battered  lard  can,  taken  aboard  in  case  the  need  for 
bailing  out  water  should  arise,  he  pushed  out  and 
leaped  aboard  the  craft,  to  give  it  its  first  official 
trial. 

Then  he  drove  it  back  to  the  beach.     The  wind 


162          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

was  towards  the  second  island,  visible  down  the  bay. 
In  such  a  boat  he  felt  it  unsafe  to  attempt  up-wind 
navigation. 

"  Well,  little  friend,  get  in,"  he  said,  "—for  bet- 
ter or  for  worse." 

Her  heart  was  fluttering  with  doubt,  but,  meet- 
ing his  eyes  with  a  smile  of  trust,  she  embarked,  and 
they  drifted  from  the  shore. 


CHAPTER  XIX 

A    DESPERATE    CHANCE 

A  FEW  drops  of  water  promptly  entered  the 
boat,  where  the  paint  on  the  canvas  had 
cracked.  For  a  moment  Vail  merely  sat  there,  watch- 
ing for  leaks  with  the  craft  now  fully  weighted. 

He  was  not  entirely  assured  by  the  bulging  ap- 
pearance of  places  made  weak  by  former  folds,  yet 
on  the  whole  the  shell  of  cloth  bore  the  pressure  re- 
markably well.  And,  inasmuch  as  disaster  and  slow 
starvation  confronted  them  here,  the  present  adven- 
ture was  imperative,  despite  unpromising  conditions. 

He  took  up  one  of  the  paddles,  and  Barbara  did 
the  same.  There  was  no  such  thing  as  shirk  in  all 
her  nature.  The  breeze  determined  their  direction, 
but  neither  knew,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  where  lay  the 
burg  of  Hackett  Tides.  The  nearest  land  was  the 
distant  island,  towards  which  the  wind  would  assist. 

They  rode  like  the  merest  shell  upon  the  ripples  of 
the  bay,  Barbara  paddling  like  a  little  Amazon,  and 
no  less  excited  and  far  more  happy  than  before. 

"  If  only  I  could  have  given  you  a  good  hearty 
breakfast  first,"  she  said,  "  it  would  be  rather  jolly, 
after  all ! " 

She  was  up  toward  the  bow,  where  he  could  watch 
163 


164          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

her  every  movement  and  glory  in  her  sturdy  strength 
and  pose.  He  had  never  believed  it  possible  for  a 
man  to  compass  the  riotous  joy  that  continued  to 
increase  in  his  veins. 

"  Aren't  you  as  hungry  as  I  ?  "  he  inquired.  "  It 
was  up  to  me,  as  a  Robinson  Crusoe  of  genuine  re- 
source, to  shoot  some  game,  or  catch  some  fish,  or 
at  least  find  some  mussels  or  oysters." 

She  was  quite  serious. 

"  But,  you  see,  unless  you  got  something  to  eat 
on  the  shore,  last  evening,  you  have  starved  much 
longer  than  I." 

"  You  haven't  taken  time  to  tell  me  where  you 
were,"  he  answered.  "  You  spoke  of  a  room  where 
you  were  locked.  How  did  you  manage  to  escape?  " 

"  I  dropped  down  from  the  window,  on  a  roof, 
then  got  in  a  tree,  and — I  guess  I  fell  from  the  lowest 
branch  to  the  ground." 

"  You  guess  you  fell?  " 

"  I  didn't  stop  at  the  time  to  think  of  it,  really. 
I  was  horribly  frightened,  I  must  confess,  and  I  ran 
as  fast  as  I  could  go." 

"To  find  a  boat?" 

"  Oh !  it  wasn't  much  trouble  to  find  the  boats, 
but  how  in  the  world  I  ever  found  the  island  I  never 
expect  to  know !  " 

What  a  new  sensation  of  pleasure  and  admiration 
he  experienced  as  he  pictured  the  brave  little  figure 
escaping  by  roofs  and  trees,  to  search  the  landings 
for  a  boat  with  which  to  brave  the  bay,  alone,  and 
row  till  she  came  to  his  side! 


A  DESPERATE  CHANCE  165 

In  all  his  life  there  had  never  been  a  service  so 
sweet  or  courageous.  His  thoughts  had  never  be- 
fore entertained  this  delight  of  comradeship  or  un- 
derstood its  ties.  A  cycle  of  years  might  fail  to 
glorify  a  love  as  his  had  been  goldened  within  the 
past  few  hours.  He  could  not  resist  a  momentary 
dwelling  on  the  subject. 

"  It  was  perfectly  incredible,  what  you  did,  but — 
Barbara,  why  did  you  come?  " 

"  Why,  because  I Just  because  you " 

She  paddled  with  extra  vigor,  adding,  haltingly, 
"  Because — you  and  I — are  friends.  You've  called 
me  one — and  of  course  I  had  to  prove  it." 

"  I  called  myself  your  friend." 

"Yes — that's  just  exactly  it!  I  mean  you're  the 

only  one How  far  do  you  suppose  we've 

gone?  " 

"  Too  far  to  turn  back,"  he  answered,  smilingly, 
and  they  were  silent  for  a  while. 

Julian  presently  took  the  can  and  bailed  out  a 
portion  of  the  water.  From  a  dozen  little  cracks, 
nearly  rotten  through  its  fabric,  the  canvas  boat 
was  leaking.  The  wind  had  slightly  freshened,  and, 
while  it  helped  to  float  them  towards  their  goal,  it 
likewise  raised  more  turbulent  waves  than  the  craft 
could  securely  weather. 

"  Don't  wear  yourself  out,"  said  Vail,  resuming 
his  paddle.  "  You've  done  far  more  than  your 
share." 

She  rested  for  a  moment,  while  he  drove  the  boat 
ahead.  It  still  seemed  very  far  indeed  to  the  island 


166          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

towards  which  they  were  forging.  She  was  waxing 
faint  and  weak  from  hunger,  yet  scorned  to  com- 
plain, or  exhibit  the  slightest  sign  that  might  dis- 
courage him. 

"Wouldn't  it  be  a  joke,"  she  said,  "  if  there's  no 
one  on  the  place  where  we  are  going?  "  Her  paddle 
was  plying  as  before. 

"  Immense,"  said  Vail.  "  I  don't  understand  why 
we  see  no  boats  in  the  bay." 

They  paddled  steadily  until  the  island  ahead  was 
less  than  a  mile  away,  showing  trees  but  no  sign  of 
a  house. 

Vail  abruptly  ceased  at  his  labor. 

"  Listen  a  minute,  Barbara.  .  .  .  It's  a  motor- 
boat,  I'm  sure." 

Their  craft  swung  about  and  drifted  on  the  wind, 
and  the  waves  pounded  softly  on  its  quarter.  Vail 
and  the  girl  both  scanned  the  bay  as  far  as  they  could 
see,  without  result.  Yet  down  with  the  breeze,  as 
they  rocked  on  the  tide,  came  the  unmistakable 
"  putt-putt  "  of  a  gasoline  discharge  with  a  pulsing 
that  indicated  speed. 

Barbara  found  it  first. 

"  Isn't  that  something,  way  back  there  by  our 
island? "  she  inquired.  "  You  don't  suppose  it's 
someone  after  us  ?  " 

Vail  stood  up,  and  strained  the  cloth  till  one  of 
the  leaks  was  enlarged. 

"  It's  a  motor-boat  with  a  bright-red  band  from 
stem  to  stern." 

"  Bright  red?  "  repeated  Barbara.    "  I  heard  them 


A  DESPERATE  CHANCE  167 

say  last  night,  while  I  was  listening,  that  the  Red 
Streak  was  the  fastest  boat  around  and  cheap  to 
hire.  They  couldn't  have  meant " 

Julian  faced  her  promptly. 

"  You  are  sure  of  that  ?  They  called  a  boat  the 
Red  Streak?  " 

He  did  not  await  her  reply,  but  promptly  sat 
down  in  his  place,  to  resume  the  paddle. 

"  We  can  beat  them  yet !  We've  got  to  beat  them, 
little  friend!  We're  small  to  find  and  hard  to  see 
and  the  wind  and  tide  are  with  us ! " 

"  Then  you  think " 

"  We'll  take  no  chances !  If  you're  tired,  rest  a 
little  bit — and  bail.  They'll  never  catch  us  in  the 
world!" 

He  was  far  less  assured  than  he  tried  to  make  her 
believe.  He  glanced  at  the  water,  swashing  about 
in  the  hold  of  their  frail  canvas  shell,  with  added 
apprehension.  A  leak  he  had  not  thought  so  large 
was  trickling  now  instead  of  dripping.  That  his 
standing  up  had  opened  a  crack  he  took  no  time  to 
deduce.  To  drive  ahead  with  all  his  strength  was 
the  one  important  task. 

Barbara  bailed,  in  silent  obedience,  glancing  back 
at  his  set  face  once,  to  smile  in  her  brave  little  way. 
It  gave  him  new  resolution — and  then  she  paddled 
as  before. 

A  steadily  rising,  clearer  punctuation  of  the 
breeze  was  all  the  indication  Vail  required  that  the 
boat  behind  was  in  pursuit.  He  swept  the  rough  wa- 
ter powerfully,  flashing  his  oar-blade  in  the  sun  like 


168          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

a  Viking  born  for  the  seas.  It  was  splendid,  a  stir- 
ring spectacle  of  two  young  striplings  of  Neptune's 
world  exerting  their  strength  together ! 

But  the  strain  on  the  boat  began  to  tell  as  it 
cleaved  through  the  rougher  billows.  All  of  its  leaks 
increased  and  new  ones  appeared,  as  Julian  watched 
— and  sweated.  He  could  feel  the  rapid  gaining 
of  the  fiery  Red  Streak  and  was  certain  his  craft  had 
been  sighted. 

How  long  their  superhuman  efforts  to  reach  the 
island  ahead  of  the  motor  could  be  sustained  he  could 
not  pause  to  reflect.  How  long  this  cracking,  rotted 
shell  could  remain  afloat  seemed  far  more  important 
to  them  now.  And  yet,  if  they  actually  reached  the 
shore  of  the  island — now  looming  momentarily 
nearer— what  shelter,  or  means  of  defense,  might 
its  meager  extent  afford? 

"  Stop  again,  Barbara,  and  bail,"  he  said,  in  his 
quiet  manner.  "  They'll  never  catch  us  now." 

She  made  no  reply,  but  worked  with  the  can  in  a 
thoroughly  businesslike  manner.  She,  too,  had  noted 
the  increasing  leaks — and  the  gaining  of  the  boat  in 
pursuit.  She  had  hourly  expected  the  men  to  come, 
a  fear  she  had  hidden  from  Vail.  She  was  far  better 
posted  than  he  on  the  need  of  her  former  captors  to 
take  her  into  custody  again. 

Her  heart  was  beating  as  a  frightened  bird  flut- 
ters its  wings.  That  the  boat  would  hold  together 
long  enough  to  carry  them  to  land  she  greatly 
doubted.  But  she  bailed  in  apparent  calm. 

Vail  plied  his  paddle  more  hotly  as  a  fresh  gush  of 


A  DESPERATE  CHANCE  169 

wind  swept  the  motor-boat's  sharpened  fusilade  to 
his  ears.  It  seemed  as  if  his  breath  and  strength  must 
utterly  fail  in  a  moment. 

Once  more,  neglecting  much  of  the  water  that 
slopped  about  their  feet,  Barbara  helped  him  to 
paddle. 

"  If  I  only  had  a  gun !  "  breathed  Julian.  "  To  be 
so  utterly  helpless !  " 

Like  an  answer  flung  in  retort  across  the  waves 
came  a  sharp,  clear  report,  and  then  a  ball,  that  sang 
as  it  sped  by  their  ears. 

Julian  lurched  as  a  buffeting  wave  interfered  with 
his  stroke,  and  the  strained  gap  opened  wider  in  the 
canvas. 

A  purling  stream  came  jutting  in  beside  his  feet. 
And,  as  if  the  racking  and  straining  had  endured  be- 
yond its  age,  the  canvas  broke  at  all  the  creases  where 
tiny  cracks  were  spread. 

"  I'd  bail,"  he  said,  and  Barbara  bailed,  while  he 
labored  like  an  engine. 

Yard  after  yard  he  drove  the  doomed  craft  for- 
ward. The  men  in  pursuit  were  still  reasonably  far 
behind.  Then  an  exclamation  broke  from  Julian's 
lips. 

"  There's  a  motor-boat  at  the  island ! " 

Barbara  looked,  her  heart  madly  leaping  with  ex- 
citement. 

Not  only  was  a  long,  slim  motor-boat  in  sight, 
around  the  point  towards  which  they  were  heading, 
but  also  a  man  in  khaki  suit  was  standing  on  the 
forward  deck,  obviously  watching  the  race. 


170          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

"  Get  up  your  anchor,  man ! "  bawled  Vail,  at  the 
top  of  his  voice.  "  We  need  your  help  !  " 

The  man  was  instantly  galvanized  and  began  to 
work  like  a  fiend. 

"  I  can't — I  can't  bail  it  fast  enough !  "  said  Bar- 
bara, suddenly. 

"  Paddle !  "  said  Vail.     "  I'll  swim !  " 

He  was  overboard  almost  instantly,  and  swimming 
by  the  boat. 

Barbara  caught  up  her  oar. 

"  Oh,  why — oh,  why  did  you Julian !  " 

In  the  stress  of  the  moment  he  smiled  at  her,  out 
of  the  sea. 

"  I  love  you.  If  only  one  can  reach  the  shore " 

A  swirl  of  the  tide  embraced  them  in  its  might 
and  hastened  them  in  towards  the  beach.  Julian's 
feet  were  on  the  sand  beneath  the  waves.  He  drove 
the  boat  before  him  irresistibly  while  it  was  filling 
to  the  brim. 

Barbara  leaped  out  and  waded.  Their  craft  went 
down  while  the  two  were  scrambling  up  the  sands. 
The  girl  was  falling  from  exhaustion.  Vail  caught 
her  up  in  his  powerful  arms,  lifted  her  bodily  out 
of  the  tide,  and  strode  through  the  froth,  like  a  drip- 
ping young  god,  to  carry  her  over  the  beach. 

"  Let  me  down !  We've  got  to  run !  "  she  cried. 
"  I'm  all  right,  Julian — please !  " 

He  placed  her  down,  but  held  to  her  hand  as  they 
idarted  forward  to  board  the  boat  where  the  stranger 
had  run  in  beside  a  rocky  ledge  that  answered  in  lieu 
of  a  pier. 


A  DESPERATE  CHANCE  171 

He  helped  them  to  scramble  in  the  cockpit,  like  two 
winded  creatures  from  the  deeps. 

"  Don't  wait !  Don't  wait  for  anything !  "  said 
Vail,  dripping  brine  like  a  sieve.  "  I'll  pay  you  your 
price  if  you'll  beat  those  chaps  to  shore  or  run  them 
on  the  rocks  and  sink  their  boat ! " 

"  Huh !  "  said  the  man,  who  had  shown  some  agility 
already;  and,  pouncing  on  his  engine,  he  suddenly 
filled  the  air  with  detonations,  backed  the  boat  from 
the  place,  and  sent  a  shudder  of  power  and  eagerness 
through  all  the  hull  as  he  gave  her  full  speed  ahead. 

A  yell  and  a  shot  came  from  across  the  water. 
The  Red  Streak,  barely  five  hundred  yards  away,  was 
flinging  aside  a  snarling  froth — and  the  race  down 
the  bay  was  on. 


CHAPTER  XX 

A    NAVAL   ENGAGEMENT 

TWO  things  Barbara  noted.  The  boat  they  were 
on  was  the  Kelpie,  and  the  island  was  barren  of 
buildings. 

Neither  fact  was  important  now,  with  that  sinister 
projectile  behind  them  spraying  the  sea  in  its  flight, 
for,  despite  the  speed,  vibration,  and  noise  developed 
by  their  own  swift-racing  craftj  it  appeared  the 
Streak  was  gaining. 

It  seemed  like  cleaving  the  sunshine  and  sea  to- 
gether as  the  Kelpie  settled  down  by  the  stern,  flung 
up  hor  nose  and  rushed  with  a  thunder  of  exploded 
gas  through  the  opal  and  emerald  wall  that  rose  to 
be  cut  and  laid  open  by  her  bow. 

The  wind,  that  had  fanned  them  from  the  rear, 
appeared  to  have  been  reversed.  It  rushed  upon  them 
full  of  rainbows,  to  sting  with  the  chill  of  spray. 
The  long,  slender  sea-hound  steadied  amazingly,  so 
far  as  side-wise  motion  was  concerned.  She  was  all 
a  mighty  quiver  of  energy,  however,  that  was  tuned 
to  the  gatling-like  exhaust. 

No  one  attempted  to  speak  against  the  noise,  but 
all  watched  backward,  tense  with  straining  nerves,  to 
note  the  position  of  the  Streak.  The  end  of  the 

172 


A  NAVAL  ENGAGEMENT  173 

island  swept  to  the  rear,  with  no  one  to  give  it 
attention.  The  boat  behind  discharged  another 
shot. 

The  report  was  drowned  in  the  roar.  A  puff  of 
smoke  and  the  leap  of  spray  where  the  bullet  im- 
pinged, were  the  signs  that  Julian  noted.  He  went 
to  the  man  who  ran  the  boat  and  shouted  in  his  ear. 

"Any  pistols  or  guns  aboard?" 

The  man  shook  his  head,  but  pointed  to  a  locker 
beneath  a  seat. 

Julian  had  it  open  promptly  and  dragged  out  a 
small  brass  cannon,  such  as  a  yacht  employs  to  fire 
a  conventional  salute.  It  was  modern,  a  breach-load- 
ing toy  that  accommodated  shells  about  like  a  ten- 
bore  gun.  A  number  of  these  mere  blanks  containing 
only  powder,  were  strewn  about  in  the  place. 

Vail  took  a  shell  and  the  gun  to  the  stern  and  fired, 
for  moral  effect.  The  answer  was  uncomfortably 
prompt — another  ball  from  the  craft  behind,  that 
was  certainly  gaining  on  their  lead. 

The  Kelpie's  skipper  was  watching,  silently.  He 
had  asked  no  questions,  demanded  no  explanations, 
interposed  no  objections  to  making  this  mad  retreat. 
It  was  none  the  less  evident,  however,  he  not  only 
fevered  to  beat  the  Streak,  but  was  galled  to  find  her 
eating  up  his  wake. 

He  did  everything  that  ingenuity  and  goaded 
pulses  could  suggest,  but  their  speed  was  the  Kelpie's 
best. 

Five,  ten,  fifteen  minutes  of  terrific  noise,  the  lash 
of  spray,  and  torpedoing  straight  for  the  shore 


174          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

gave  the  Streak  a  menacing  gain.  Two  water  comets, 
steaming  the  wave-crests  as  they  sped,  could  have 
seemed  no  more  like  lawless  visitors,  sent  to  plow  up 
the  calm  of  the  bay. 

Julian,  glancing  hurriedly  about,  for  anything 
loose  with  which  to  load  the  otherwise  useless  cannon, 
got  two  mental  impressions  at  once.  One  was  of 
several  feet  of  small  brass  chain,  loosely  wrapped 
in  a  length  of  copper  wire.  The  other  came  like  a 
series  of  blurs,  where  something  shot  past  in  the 
water. 

Then  a  jolt  that  shook  the  Kelpie  to  her  stem 
gave  them  all  a  start  of  apprehension.  In  less  than 
half  a  minute  their  speed  had  dropped  a  third. 

The  screw  had  struck  on  the  branch  of  a  tree  that 
was  floating  in  the  bay.  It  had  broken  off  one  of 
its  blades. 

The  groan  that  escaped  the  silent  skipper  was 
lost  in  the  deafening  exhaust.  He  looked  at  Vail, 
and  the  two  understood,  as  Barbara  felt  from  their 
glances. 

Wild  yells  of  triumph  and  more  of  the  shots  came 
piercing  through  the  wind  from  behind.  The  men 
in  the  Streak  had  seen  the  halt  where  the  Kelpie 
limped  onward  from  pursuit. 

Vail  made  a  dive  for  the  wad  of  chain,  which  he 
found  was  in  several  pieces.  One  of  these  he  quickly 
wrapped  with  the  wire  that  bound  them  all  together. 
What  he  thus  formed  was  a  two-inch  length  of  links 
that  would  just  barely  slip  in  the  cannon. 

His  face  was  grim  as  he  loaded  the  piece  for  war. 


A  NAVAL  ENGAGEMENT  175 

Not  a  single  face  was  visible  in  the  sinister  Streak, 
that  was  ramming  down  in  triumph  upon  them. 

Steadily  narrower  became  the  gap  between  the 
pursued  and  pursuers.  It  seemed  as  if  nothing  on 
earth  could  prevent  the  Streak  from  capturing  its 
prey.  It  was  certainly  less  than  eighty  yards  away, 
and  coming  on  with  meteoric  velocity,  when  Julian 
fired  his  gun. 

He  had  aimed  it  high,  aware  that  the  chain  would 
prove  a  poor  projectile.  But  he  hoped  to  get  them 
at  the  water-line  and  let  the  sea  in  to  their  motor. 

The  little  brass  ordnance  leaped  in  fury  when  it 
joined  its  report  to  the  din. 

The  shot  went  home  as  true  as  a  die,  but  higher 
than  Vail  had  expected.  He  saw  where  it  hit  them, 
plainly.  It  tore  a  hole  as  big  as  his  fist  through 
their  prow,  alongside  of  their  stem. 

But  it  seemed  to  have  little  effect.  It  was  fully 
a  foot  above  their  water-line  and  must  have  ranged 
almost  straight  for  their  motor. 

Julian  ran  to  load  again,  while  more  shots  came 
raining  from  the  rear.  Then  the  skipper  abruptly 
flung  off  his  cap  and  stamped  upon  it  in  glee.  He 
yelled  out  something  fraught  with  joy,  but  not  a 
word  was  comprehended. 

Barbara  clutched  at  Julian's  sleeve  and  merely 
cried  to  him: 

"Look!" 

Julian  rose  and  cast  a  glance  at  the  Streak  that 
no  longer  streaked.  One  of  the  men  had  clambered 
forward,  to  examine  the  hole  in  the  prow.  The  mis- 


176          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

sile  fired  from  Julian's  piece  had  ripped  out  the  bot- 
tom of  their  gasoline  tank  and  their  motor  had 
ceased  its  roaring. 

The  "  bone  in  their  teeth  "  was  relinquished,  for 
the  race  of  the  Streak  was  done. 

Shots,  curses,  yells,  and  futile  ragings  sped  on  to 
overtake  the  Kelpie.  The  broken  propeller  churned 
triumphantly,  despite  the  lessened  speed,  and  the 
skipper  finally  closed  his  exhaust  and  turned  to  Vail 
with  a  grin. 

"What  did  you  do?" 

"Don't  know,"  said  Vail.  "But  I  loaded  with 
chain  and  think  I  reached  their  solar  plexus.  Is  there 
anything  on  board  we  could  eat?  " 

Again  as  before  the  man  merely  waved  to  a  locker. 
He  was  a  silent,  eccentric  individual. 

Julian  found  a  pail  of  lunch,  and,  with  no  more 
ado,  sat  down  with  Barbara  at  the  stern,  to  help  her 
devour  every  morsel. 

At  one  o'clock  they  came  to  the  pier  that  served 
the  town  of  Silver  Rill,  where  Julian's  car  had  been 
stored.  The  almost  wordless  skipper  of  the  Kelpie 
was  sorry  to  bid  them  adieu. 

"  If  you'll  tell  me  your  name,"  said  Julian,  "  I'll 
send  you  a  check  for  twice  what  you  charge  for  your 
services  and  damage." 

The  skipper  shook  his  head. 

"  Got  a  million  now  and  don't  know  how  to  spend 
it." 

Julian  met  his  twinkling  glance  and  felt  he  had 
come  upon  a  brother.  He  held  out  his  hand. 


A  NAVAL  ENGAGEMENT  177 

"  At  least  you'll  tell  me  your  name?  " 

"  It's  Jim." 

"  Mine's  Jule — I  hope  we'll  meet  again." 

"  And  mine  is  Barbara,"  said  the  bright-eyed  girl, 
whose  smile  overpaid  him,  he  was  sure,  as  he  closed 
his  hand  upon  her  fingers. 

With  one  accord  she  and  Julian  turned  at  the 
shore,  to  wave  him  a  last  farewell.  Then  he  went 
again  to  his  boat. 

Vail,  once  more  all  eagerness,  hastened  at  once  to 
the  town's  one  telephone,  while  Barbara  waited, 
seated  on  a  box. 

He  called  up  his  New  York  office  and  finally  got 
Broughton  on  the  wire. 

"  This  is  Mr.  Vail,"  he  said.  "  I'm  on  my  way 
home  from  a  trip.  .  .  .  Yes,  I'll  be  at  the  office  in 
the  morning.  .  .  .  Never  mind  Gardner  just  at  pres- 
ent. .  .  .  Broughton,  I  want  you  to  attend  to  a 
personal  matter  for  me,  at  once.  ...  I  want  you  to 
take  the  vase  of  flowers  from  my  desk — flowers  and 
all — faded  or  not — without  disturbing  anything — 
and  carry  it,  just  as  it  is,  to  your  apartments.  .  .  . 
Yes,  wrap  it  up,  of  course.  .  .  .  Your  own  apart- 
ments, yes — till  further  orders.  .  .  .  I'll  hold  the 
wire  till  you  tell  me  you've  got  it  from  the  desk." 

He  sat  for  perhaps  two  minutes,  holding  the  re- 
ceiver to  his  ear. 

"  Hullo !  "  came  the  distant  voice,  at  last,  "  is  that 
you,  Mr.  Vail?  " 

"  Yes,  all  right." 

"  The  vase,  Mr.  Vail,  is  gone." 


178          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

Vail  felt  a  kick  of  his  heart. 

"  The  vase — you  say  it's  gone  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir.     It's  not  on  the  desk." 

Julian  made  an  effort  to  pull  himself  together. 

"  All  right.     Much  obliged.     Good-by." 

He  hung  up  the  instrument  resignedly,  fearing 
now  his  car  might  also  be  missing. 

But  the  thieves  had  avoided  the  village  garage  and 
the  car  had  been  unmolested. 

Then  presently,  still  wet,  but  not  chilled  to  posi- 
tive discomfort,  he  settled,  with  Barbara,  in  the  ma- 
chine and  headed  for  Gotham — and  trouble. 


CHAPTER  XXI 

SOME    HALF-CONFESSIONS 

IF  Barbara's  spirits  flagged  at  last,  with  contem- 
plations of  things  and  inquiries  still  to  be  faced 
in  New  York,  Vail  was  no  less  afflicted  by  a  dread 
of  affairs  not  yet  approached  as  the  space  between 
themselves  and  the  feverish  town  began  to  be  di- 
minished. 

Out  here  in  the  open  they  had  seemed  on  a  differ- 
ent footing.  The  city  and  its  cares  had  dimmed 
and  their  two  selves  only  had  counted.  Fate,  chance, 
and  adventure  had  appeared  about  to  weld  their  lives 
in  one,  and  all  else  beyond  was  vague. 

Julian  knew  there  would  be  no  time  like  this  for 
the  conference  they  must  hold.  He  had  put  it  all 
away  from  him,  gladly,  while  events  crowded  thickly 
in  their  path,  but  facts  there  were  he  must  face  at 
last,  if  only  for  their  mutual  protection, 

He  almost  wished  New  York  might  sink,  taking 
with  it  to  some  bottomless  depth  all  the  crime  and 
misery,  treachery,  fraud,  intrigue,  the  mockery  of 
life  and  lovej  and  the  poverty  and  woe  with  which  it 
was  seething  day  and  night.  He  was  certain  no 
truer,  purer  little  heart  than  Barbara  had  brought 
to  the  huge  metropolis  ever  beat  out  the  seconds  of 

179 


180          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

a  life.  He  was  sure  she  was  innocent  of  any  intended 
wrong,  despite  all  the  things  he  remembered. 

"  Little  friend,"  he  said  to  her,  at  last,  "  who  were 
the  men  in  the  Streak?  " 

She  was  thoroughly  startled  by  the  query. 

"  Why — I  don't  know — that  is,  except They 

must  have  been  the  men  who  put  you  in  the  cistern." 

"  Yes,  I'm  reasonably  sure  of  that.  But  they  had 
no  reason  for  desiring  to  capture  me  again.  They 
must  have  been  after  you,  and  the  question  arises — 
why?" 

She  very  much  wished  to  be  absolutely  frank.  She 
met  his  glance  unflinchingly,  assured  by  the  light  in 
his  eyes. 

"  I  suppose  they  might  be  a  little  afraid  of — 
things  that  they  think  I'll  tell." 

"And  will  you,  Barbara? — There  have  been  a  lot 
of  mysterious  things  I  must  inquire  about — and  per- 
haps the  sooner  the  better." 

"  I'll  tell  you  all  I  can,"  she  answered,  whitening  a 
trifle  and  tucking  his  fur  robe  closer  about  her  feet. 

"  There  are  some  things  yet What  shall  I  tell 

you  first?" 

"  You  know  at  least  one  of  the  men  who  captured 
me?" 

She  nodded.  "  I  think  so — at  least  he  must  have 
helped." 

"  Does  he  happen  to  be  a  tall,  red-headed  man — 
the  one  you  were  with  at  the  house  where  you  saw 
me  on  the  stairs  ?  " 

"  Yes,  but  I  hope * 


SOME  HALF-CONFESSIONS  181 

"  Did  he  also  whistle  you  out  of  the  house — at 
Mrs.  Loomis's,  twice?" 

"  He  did,  of  course.  You  see,  I  couldn't 
help "  And  she  halted,  looking  in  his  eyes  be- 
seechingly. 

His  compassion  and  trust  were  not  to  be  mistaken. 

"  The  man  isn't  anything — anyone  particularly 
dear  in  your  life  ?  "  he  asked  her,  eagerly.  "  Or  is 
he  someone  you've  been  afraid  to  resist?" 

She  colored  and  dropped  her  gaze. 

"  He  frightens  me  terribly — and  then  he  prom- 
ises   Oh,  please,  isn't  that  one  of  the  subjects 

— the  parts  you  can  leave  a  little  longer?  " 

"  I'd  like  to  leave  it  all,  but  it's  a  pretty  serious 
affair.  Have  you  any  idea  why  I  was  lured  to  that 
deserted  island?  " 

"  Not  the  slightest  in  the  world."  Her  honesty 
was  thoroughly  convincing.  "  I'd  like  to  know." 

"  You  can't  tell  me  first  who  he  is — this  red- 
headed man  ?  " 

"  I'd  rather  not — if  you'll  trust  me  just  a  little." 
The  tension  of  her  nerves  was  obvious. 

He  felt  he  could  trust  her  with  his  life,  since  her 
little  hand  had  held  it.  Nevertheless,  he  required  aid, 
and  a  clearing  away  of  the  mist — and  worry  lingered 
at  his  heart. 

"  You  haven't  told  me  whether  or  not  he  is  very 
dear  to  you." 

"  Oh,  he  isn't !  He  isn't !  There's  no  one  so  dear 

as There's  no  one,  I  mean,  that's I  hate 

him,  if  that's  what  you  mean." 


182          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

"  Thank  God ! "  he  murmured,  more  to  himself 
than  to  her.  "  Can  you  tell  me  why  you  disappeared 
and  went  to  that  house  I  was  in  ?  " 

"  He  promised  to  help  me  get  some  things  that — 
mean  everything  to  me." 

"  There  were  things  of  yours  in  that  house,  of  all 
houses  in  the  town  ?  " 

"  Why,  I  don't  know  what  house  it  was.  He  took 
me  there  in  a  car.  Is  there  anything  wrong  with  the 
house?  " 

"  Didn't  you  recognize  the  place  ?  " 

"  Not  in  the  least.  We  had  only  arrived  when  you 
called  from  above,  and  he  caught  me  up  and  ran. 
You  don't  mean  the  house  is  yours  ?  " 

Julian  almost  smiled. 

"  Not  exactly.  What  is  it  of  yours  that  was 
there?" 

She  colored  again. 

"  Just  papers.  If  I  ever  get  them,  Mr.  Vail,  and 
they  shouldn't  prove "  She  left  it  incompleted. 

The  personal  equation  was  dominant  at  once  with 
Vail. 

"  You've  called  me  Julian  before." 

"  Perhaps — when  I  was  excited.  I  didn't  intend 
to,  of  course." 

He  slowed  down  the  car. 

"  Don't  say  that,  Barbara,  please.  You  haven't 
forgotten  what  I  told  you — when  I  had  to  get  out 
of  the  boat?" 

The  exquisite  fire  that  leaped  to  her  eyes  ignited 
trains  of  powder  in  his  pulses. 


SOME  HALF-CONFESSIONS  183 

"  But  you  shouldn't  have  said  it — you  shouldn't," 
she  protested.  "  Please — please  pretend  it  didn't 
happen — or  was  just — excitement — like  mine." 

"  But  it  wasn't,  little  friend.  You  must  have  felt 
it — known  it — known " 

"  But  when  I  beg  you,  Julian There !  I've 

gone  and  done  it  again !  "  She  was  laughing,  with 
tears  in  her  eyes. 

"  You  don't  mean,  Barbara " 

"  Please  wait !  "  she  interrupted.  "  If  you  knew 

what  I — knew  things — knew  more  about Oh, 

please,  please  let's  be  friends  again — just  friends,  till 
perhaps — perhaps  I  pass  out  of  your  life ! "  She 
said  that  last  with  smileless  lips  that  she  forced  to 
pronounce  unwelcome  words. 

Vail  was  momentarily  silenced,  meeting  the  look  in 
her  eyes.  He  had  never  loved  her  more  than  now, 
when  she  seemed  to  be  receding  from  his  vision.  He 
was  mystified  and  magnetized,  reckless  yet  restrained, 
and  held  away  by  gulfs  impassable,  feeling  once  more 
the  obscuring  mist  arise  to  enshroud  her  where  she 
sat. 

Her  half-formed  admissions,  halted  revelations, 
and  emotional  distress  filled  his  heart  with  appre- 
hension. 

"  Do  you  wish  to  pass  out  of  my  life?  "  he  said, 
his  own  face  white  and  set.  "  You  can  answer  that  ?  " 

The  tears  sprang  again  to  her  eyes. 

"  Oh,  but  you  won't  insist  on  an  answer— not  to- 
day?" 

"  What  is  it,"  he  inquired,  "  that  weaves  between 


184          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

you  and  me?  Why  can't  you  tell  me,  and  let  me  try 
to  help?  Don't  you  know  I'll  be  your  friend,  all 
through?" 

She  met  his  gaze  fearlessly  again. 

"  That  is  the  dearest  hope  of  my  life." 

"  Then  give  me  a  chance  to  prove  it.  I  wonder 
if  you  even  know  how  much  you  need  a  friend?  " 

Her  frightened  look  returned. 

"You  mean  that  I'm  in  danger? — some  danger  I 
haven't  discovered?  " 

"  It  couldn't  be  otherwise.  From  the  first  I've 
doubted  that  you  could  know  how  much  this  business 
means." 

"  Trapping  you  in  the  well?  " 

"  A  great  deal  more  than  that — and  it's  time  you 
knew."  He  saw  her  brown  eyes  glow  with  girlish 
misgivings,  but  resolved  he  must  still  go  on.  "  You 
were  sent  to  me  in  a  box,  do  you  know  why  ?  " 

"  Perhaps  someone  intended  to  give  me  a  genuine 
friend." 

It  went  to  his  heart  like  wine  of  roses.    He  smiled. 

"  Ah !  if  that  had  been  the  only  reason !  Barbara, 
haven't  you  read  the  accounts  in  the  papers  of  that 
Indian  Maharajah,  murdered  and  robbed  of  his 
gems?  " 

"  I  noticed  a  little  about  it."  Her  interest  was 
mild. 

He  steeled  his  heart  to  continue  to  the  end. 

"  The  principal  jewel  stolen  was  a  ruby,  a  sacred 
stone  of  exceptional  size  and  worth." 

"  Yes,  I  think  I  remember  reading  that." 


SOME  HALF-CONFESSIONS  185 

"  Do  you  also  recall  that  your  shoes,  that  you 
left  at  my  office,  got  wet  as  they  lay  on  the  desk?  " 

"  It  couldn't  have  hurt  them  in  the  least." 

He  was  silent  for  a  moment,  passing  a  team  in  the 
road.  The  car  was  running  with  a  purr  that  barely 
sounded  to  their  ears. 

"  It  didn't  exactly  hurt  your  shoes,  but  one  of 
the  heels  came  off." 

She  gave  no  suspicious  sign. 

"  Why,  what  an  absurd It  couldn't  have  been 

nailed!" 

"  No,  it  was  glued,  and  the  wetting  did  the  trick. 
— That  heel  was  hollow,  and — what  do  you  think  was 
inside?  " 

"  Inside  the  heel  of  my  shoe  ?  "  Her  surprise  was 

thoroughly  sincere.  "  Why,  but  how I  don't 

understand " 

"  The  heel  was  hollowed,  as  I  said — and  it  held 
that  stolen  ruby." 

She  flung  out  her  hand  upon  his. 


CHAPTER  XXII 

A    STARTLING    DENOUEMENT 

FOR  a  moment  there  was  silence  between  them,  as 
they  rode  along  in  the  car.  Then  Barbara 
spoke. 

"  My  shoe !  A  stolen  ruby  in  my  shoe  ?  Some- 
one was  murdered  and  robbed  and  then — the  ruby 
was  put  in  my  heel?  " 

"  Exactly  as  I  have  told  you,  Barbara,  and,  there- 
fore  " 

Her  grip  on  his  arm  was  tightened.  Her  eyes 
were  fixed  and  wide.  Horror,  surprise,  and  question- 
ing were  depicted  in  her  glance. 

"  No  wonder  then  that  Willard So  that  was 

why  he  made  me  tell You— Julian — what  did 

you  think  ?  You  didn't  believe  that  I — 

"  I  found  it  out  that  day,"  he  interrupted.  "  Have 

I  acted  as  if  I  suspected,  believed What  is  it 

you  started  to  say?  Willard  is  Willard  who?  And 
what  did  he  make  you  tell  ?  " 

She  was  greatly  perturbed. 

"  I — I If  just  you  wouldn't  ask  me  now.  I 

didn't  mean Please  tell  me  what  happened 

then." 

"  I  placed  your  property  in  the  safe,  as  I  told 
186 


A  STARTLING  DENOUEMENT        187 

you  at  the  time — and  that  night  the  place  was  en- 
tered and  someone  stole  the  shoes." 

She  was  intensely  white. 

"  They  got  the  ruby  and  all?  " 

"  I  had  placed  the  ruby  elsewhere.  It  was  saved. 
— They  got  me  down  there  in  the  cistern  to  force 
me  to  tell  where  it  was." 

She  closed  her  eyes  and  reeled  with  weakness.  Her 
hand  had  fallen  from  his  arm  and  hung  there  limply 
on  the  robe. 

He  held  the  wheel  in  the  grip  of  his  right  hand 
and  caught  her  drooping  wrist. 

"  So  you  see,  little  friend,"  he  continued,  eager 
to  reassure  her  mind,  "  we  need  each  other's  help. — 
You're  not  going  to  faint?  " 

She  shook  her  head,  grasping  at  her  will  to  hold 
it  steady. 

"  I  knew  you  knew  nothing  of  all  this  affair,"  he 
added,  solicitously,  "  but  at  least  you  know  some  of 
the  men  concerned  and  the  desperate  means  they  em- 
ploy.— You  risked  your  life  to  save  me,  and  you  know 
I'd  give  you  mine.  We've  got  to  work  together, 
for  detectives  are  on  the  case." 

She  started  and  stared  at  him  again. 

"  Detectives  ?  But  they  don't  suspect  /  stole  the 
ruby  and  hid  it,  or  murdered  anyone?  Oh,  why  did 
anyone  mix  it  up  with  us — with  me — and  drag  me 
in?  But  when  they  got  you  down  in  the  well — you 
told  them  where  to  go  and  get  the  stone?  " 

His  face  was  slightly  flushed. 

"  I  waited  till  the  hole  was  nearly  full  of  water, 


188          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

running  in  from  the  bay.  Then I'm  afraid  I 

hadn't  the  courage  to  die  for  a  sacred  ruby." 

She  clung  to  his  hand  abruptly,  with  a  fierce  and 
passionate  desire  to  shield  him  both  from  harm  and 
his  own  bitter  self-accusation. 

The  silence  between  them  was  prolonged,  as  each 
was  absorbed  in  a  cycle  of  thoughts  that  revolved 
with  dizzying  velocity.  At  length  she  appeared  to 
realize  what  her  tense  little  hand  was  about.  She 
released  her  grip  jand  applied  her  strength  to  the 
needs  of  further  questions. 

"  Do  you  think  they've  got  the  ruby  now  ?  " 

"  I  'phoned  my  office  for  information.  It  looks 
as  if  they  have." 

"Then  what  will  happen  next?" 

*'  I  wish  I  knew.  I  wish  that  could  end  the  whole 
affair.  But  what  the  detectives  may  do  in  the  case 
is  more  than  I  can  tell." 

Her  alarm  surged  back  as  before. 

"  You  don't  really  think  they'd  mix  me  up  in  the 
trouble  again  ? — Oh !  perhaps  you've  had  to  tell " 

"  I've  told  them  nothing,  Barbara,  but  one  clever 
man  has  guessed  mighty  close  to  the  truth!  Don't 
you  see — don't  you  understand  at  last " 

She  interrupted  swiftly. 

"  But  I  hadn't  anything  to  do  with  all  these 
things  !  I  don't  know  how  it  ever  happened !  I  don't 
know  what  was  done  to  me,  or  how  I  came  in  the 

box !  I  haven't  stolen  anything,  and  I  can  prove • 

Oh,  what  am  I  going  to  do  ?  " 

"  What  can  you  prove  ?  "  he  demanded,  eagerly. 


A  STARTLING  DENOUEMENT        189 

"  What  can  you  tell  me  that  will  clear  this  matter 
up?  Who  are  you  shielding,  Barbara?  Is  it  some- 
one you  dearly  love?  " 

"  Oh,  please,  please  wait — don't  ask  me  now,"  she 

begged  him,  wistfully.  "  I'm  so  frightened If 

you  knew  how  dear  he  is  to Everything,  every- 
thing— my  whole  life  and  happiness I've  needed 

all  the  help  I  could  get.  And  Willard,  of  course 

Oh,  I  can't,  I  can't  explain !  " 

She  had  blurted  out  so  manv  fragmentary  admis- 
sions, all  creating  confusion  in  his  mind,  that  Julian's 
thoughts  were  filled  with  all  manner  of  despair. 
Ghosts  of  his  older  doubts  and  wraiths  of  the  new 
swam  mistily  through  it  all.  He  was  certain  of  one 
thing  only — he  loved  her  in  spite  of  himself — loved 
her,  believed  her,  and  gave  her  his  trust  absolutely. 

Yet  the  thing  he  had  feared  more  than  all  the 
rest  seemed  fully  confirmed  at  last:  There  was  some- 
one dearer  than  himself  for  whom  she  could  bear 
the  blackest  sort  of  suspicion.  Twice  she  had  men- 
tioned this  "  Willard,"  and  yet  had  declared  she 
hated  him  with  all  her  sturdy  might. 

"  I  must  ask  you  first  to  be  fair  to  yourself,"  he 
told  her  now,  judicially.  "  If  there  is  any  way  on 
earth  for  you  to  prove  your  innocence  of  all  knowl- 
edge of  the  ruby  and  how  it  came  in  your  possession, 
for  Heaven's  sake,  Barbara,  exercise  it  now!  Give 
me  a  chance  to  help  you — help  myself — satisfy  the 
detectives,  who  will  certainly  trace  the  stone !  " 

"  I  don't  know  how  it  came  to  be  in  my  shoe,"  she 
repeated.  "  I  don't  see  why  it  was  put  there.  I 


190          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

don't  know  why  I  was  sent  to  you,  and  I  wish  I 
hadn't  been  at  all,  since  it's  making  you  all  this 
trouble." 

"  Oh,  don't  say  that ! "  he  begged  her,  fervently. 
"  I'm  glad,  in  spite  of  it  all !  But  you  started  to 
say  you  could  prove  your  innocence.  It's  proved 
already  to  me,  but  why  not  give  me  all  the  facts  and 
let  me  defend  you  absolutely?  " 

She  met  his  gaze  courageously,  but  no  color  re- 
turned to  her  face. 

"  I  can't  prove  anything — just  yet.  Perhaps 

when  I've  seen If  I  only  knew  what  to 

do!" 

He  abandoned  all  hope  of  getting  behind  the  some- 
thing that  she  steadfastly  withheld.  He  took  an- 
other tack. 

"  You  won't  try  to  see  these  criminals — or 
Willard?  You  won't  run  away  again  and  put  your- 
self in  their  power?  " 

"  I  don't  suppose  they'll  want  me  again,  now  that 
they've  got  the  ruby." 

He  was  well-nigh  aghast,  it  sounded  so  much  like 
confession  of  her  connection  with  the  crime. 

"  But  you  told  me,  Barbara,  you  did  not  know 
the  ruby  was  in  your  shoe." 

Her  eyes  were  perfectly  frank. 

"  I  didn't.  But  you  tell  me  it  was,  and  all  that 
Willard — all  he  wanted  to  know  when  he  came  to 
Mrs.  Loomis's  was  what  I  had  done  with  my  shoes. 
He  made  me  tell  him  everything  that  happened  and 
where  you  had  put  them  away." 


A  STARTLING  DENOUEMENT        191 

rt  But  he  came  again  next  morning,  while  I  was  on 
the  'phone.  What  was  he  after  then  ?  " 

"  Why,  nothing.  I'd  ask  him  to  come, — I  mean 

he  had  promised  to  help That's  the  part  I'd 

rather  not  tell." 

Julian  smiled,  in  a  mirthless  way  that  she  felt 
masked  a  silent  rebuke.  It  was  merely  his  helpless- 
ness. 

"  How  long  shall  I  be  obliged  to  wait  for  this 
information?  " 

She  avoided  his  searching  eyes. 

"  You  may  never  get  the  information — perhaps." 

"  You  don't  mean  to  say " 

"  Oh,  it  isn't  my  wish ! "  she  protested,  passion- 
ately. "  It  isn't  a  thing  that  anyone  can  help !  But 
if  I  go  away — and  you  never  hear  of  me  again — I 
want  you  to  know,  believe,  understand — it  was  the 
only  thing  I  could  do ! " 

Despite  the  sickening  doubts  that  assailed  him, 
mind  and  heart,  he  could  not  consent  to  think  of  her 
slipping  from  his  life.  Such  love  as  his  knows  noth- 
ing of  reason,  nothing  of  cause,  and  cares  nothing 
for  what  has  been. 

"  But  you  wouldn't  do  that — not  after  such 
a  day  as  we  have  passed  together!  Where  do 
you  mean  to  go  to-night,  after  we've  had  our 
dinner?  " 

"  I  hadn't  thought."  She  smiled  at  her  helpless 
position.  "  I  haven't  any  place  to  go,  of  course — 
unless  it's  back  to  Mrs.  Loomis." 

"  I'll  take  you  there,"  he  told  her,  promptly,  ri- 


192          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

membering  one  thing  more.  "  But  where  did  you 
pass  the  night  when  I  saw  you  at  the  ball?  How  did 
you  happen  to  be  there,  Barbara?  What  did  it 
mean,  that  gown  and  all? — and  the  woman  who  took 
you  away  ?  " 

She  flushed  to  the  tips  of  her  ears. 

"  They  just  dressed  me  up  and  gave  me  that  name 
and  took  me  there,  that's  all.  I  told  you  I  didn't 
know  why.  I  don't — unless — it  might  have  been — 
to  meet  Mr. — Sir  Hugh  Pearson." 

"  You  had  never  met  him  previously  ?  " 

"  Never  in  my  life  ?  I  don't  know  anything  about 
him." 

"  Where  did  you  get  the  gown  ?  " 

"  I  think  it  must  have  been  hired,  jewels  and  all." 

"  Who  was  the  woman  ?  You  probably  stayed  at 
her  house." 

"  I  did.  She  said  her  name  was  Mrs.  Snow,  but 
I  think  that  name  was  assumed." 

"  Assumed?  " 

"  A  servant  called  her  *  My  Lady  '  by  mistake,  and 
a  lot  of  English  letters  came,  and  I  think  she  is 
someone  important.  She  doesn't  speak  as  we  do 
in  the  least." 

"  She  wanted  you  to  meet  Sir  Hugh." 

"  She  thought  it  might  be  pleasant." 

He  was  instantly  alert. 

"And  was  it,  Barbara?" 

"  I  don't  know.    I  was  too  excited,  seeing  you." 

Her  answer  might  have  been  complimentary  or 
just  the  other  way.  He  pursued  the  subject  further. 


A  STARTLING  DENOUEMENT        193 

"Do  you  expect  to  meet  him  again?  Did  Mrs. 
Snow,  or  Lady  Someone,  invite  you  to  stop  at  her 
house?" 

"  She  seemed  to  think  it  was  settled  that  I  would." 

Vail  was  deeper  than  ever  in  the  fog. 

"  And  you  think  you  may  ?  " 

The  glance  that  had  played  such  havoc  already 
with  his  heart  was  glowing  again  in  her  two  brown 
eyes  as  she  turned  them  steadily  upon  him. 

"  I  think  I  prefer  Mrs.  Loomis's  and I  mean 

I'd  rather  not." 

They  were  passing  through  one  of  the  suburbs  of 
Brooklyn.  Their  journey  was  nearing  its  end. 

Julian,  thoroughly  engrossed  in  the  latest  revela- 
tions of  Barbara's  adventures,  had  given  no  heed  to 
a  pair  of  policemen,  mounted  on  wheels,  who  had 
fallen  in  behind  him  in  the  road,  a  mile  at  the  rear, 
to  follow  him  on  to  the  town. 

It  was  not  until  he  swung  at  last  into  one  of  the 
streets  devoted  almost  wholly  to  business  that  his 
attention  was  drawn  to  a  squad  of  policemen,  ac- 
tively moving  out  in  the  road  and  waving  their  hands 
for  him  to  halt. 

A  limousine  car  was  standing  by  the  curb,  before 
a  precinct  station.  Vail  had  no  more  than  stopped 
his  car  than  an  amazing  thing  occurred. 

A  veiled,  excited  woman,  clutching  a  large  police- 
man by  the  arm,  came  running  to  the  curb. 

"  Barbara !     My  little  girl !  "  she  cried. 

Half  a  minute  later,  wholly  dazed  and  confounded 
by  the  surprise  of  the  situation,  Vail  was  dragged 


194          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

bodily  out  of  his  seat,  and  arrested  on  a  charge  of 
abduction.  He  was  taken  at  once  inside  the  station. 

Barbara,  strangely  helpless  and  silenced  by  some- 
thing the  woman  said  or  did,  as  she  weepingly  clasped 
her  in  her  arms,  was  still  too  astonished  or  fright- 
ened to  speak,  when,  after  a  time  of  great  confusion 
and  excitement  at  the  place,  she  found  herself  hope- 
lessly parted  from  Vail  and  at  last  in  the  limousine 
car. 

Then  the  car  escaped  the  curious  throng,  gathered 
from  all  directions,  and  was  driven  away,  for  the 
bridge  and  New  York,  at  the  limit  of  speed  regu- 
lations. 


CHAPTER  XXIII 

IBIS    WRITES    A   LETTER 

IT  was  useless  for  Vail  to  storm,  protest,  and 
threaten  when  at  last  he  recovered  his  normal  wits 
and  demanded  an  explanation.  To  all  intents  and 
purposes  he  had  been  "  captured  with  the  goods." 
There  was  no  one  at  the  station  to  whom  his  name 
and  connections  meant  the  smallest  thing  in  the 
world.  He  could  claim  no  rights  or  ownership  in 
Barbara  Lee,  either  by  legal  or  blood  relationship. 
He  had  no  intention  of  blurting  out  the  truth  as  to 
how  she  had  spent  the  night.  He  was  helpless  in  the 
hands  of  the  "  law." 

It  was  fully  an  hour  before  he  could  manage  to 
hunt  down  Faxon,  Chief  of  the  New  York  Police,  by 
means  of  the  telephone,  and  invoke  his  official  aid. 
Even  then,  through  required  precautions,  he  was  still 
•obliged  to  wait  for  a  time  that  seemed  interminable 
for  the  Chief  to  make  sure  there  was  some  mistake 
and  to  send  instructions  and  guarantees  that  restored 
him  to  his  freedom.  He  was  finally  permitted  to 
climb  in  his  car  and  resume  his  journey  alone. 

Nothing  more  baffling  or  galling  than  this  had 
occurred  in  all  the  incredible  succession  of  events 
piled  in  upon  him  since  his  birthday  "  present "  ar- 

195 


196          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

rived.  He  was  not  at  all  certain  it  was  safe  or  wise 
to  demand  police  assistance  to  discover  where  Bar- 
bara had  gone. 

The  more  he  thought  upon  the  matter  the  more 
clearly  he  realized  the  extraordinary  position  in 
which  he  found  himself.  Not  only  must  he  exercise 
every  possible  precaution  to  protect  the  name  of  the 
vanished  girl  who  had  risked  her  life  and  all  to  save 
him  from  hideous  death,  but  he  could  not  even  take 
this  present  affair  to  Garrison  without  revealing  facts 
too  likely  to  involve  her  with  the  law. 

Not  even  the  satisfaction  of  knowing  the  woman 
who  had  lodged  the  complaint  of  abduction  against 
him  was  vouchsafed  his  angered  mind.  The  name  she 
gave  the  officers  was  false,  as  he  was  thoroughly 
aware.  No  view  had  been  permitted  of  her  face, 
either  during  or  after  his  arrest. 

With  a  sense  of  chagrin,  he  confessed  to  himself 
that  Barbara  must  have  consented  to  some  of  these 
proceedings  for  the  coup  to  have  met  with  success. 
Had  she  cried  out  but  once  that  the  woman  of  the 
veil  was  an  impostor,  the  sergeant  must  certainly 
have  listened  long  enough  to  investigate  the  affair. 
Either  through  fright  or  acquiescence  she  had  meekly 
submitted  to  the  bold  design  without  so  much  as  a 
word. 

She  was  hiding  something  vital,  by  confession  re- 
peatedly made.  It  was  equally  certain  this  present 
denouement  could  have  happened  only  through  con- 
trivance between  the  woman  and  the  fellows  at  Hack- 
ett  Tides.  No  one  else  under  Heaven  could  have 


IRIS  WRITES  A  LETTER  197 

telephoned  ahead  that  he  and  Barbara  were  coming. 
Being  unaware  that  all  the  way  down  a  woman  had 
followed  his  car,  he  made  no  calculations  involving 
that  factor  in  the  case. 

The  whole  affair  aroused  his  indignation  more  and 
more,  especially  as  he  realized  there  was  nothing  he 
could  do,  either  to-night  or  in  the  morning,  to  find 
where  Barbara  had  gone.  Without  the  aid  of  pro- 
fessional detectives,  whose  services  and  attention  to 
the  case  he  desired  to  avoid,  he  would  simply  be 
obliged  to  wait  till  she  could  send  him  word — which 
he  feared  she  might  not  do. 

All  the  way  back  to  the  city  he  vainly  cudgeled  his 
brain  for  counter  moves  and  nursed  his  wrath  at  the 
woman  whose  coup  had  been  so  astonishingly  accom- 
plished. At  length,  half-starved  and  wholly  dis- 
gusted, he  came  to  his  own  apartments,  leaving  his 
car  at  the  curb. 

A  number  of  letters  had  accumulated  here,  two  of 
which  came  from  Iris  Puryn,  while  Enid  had  sent 
no  less  than  four.  All  were  indifferently  tossed  aside, 
unopened,  while  Julian  hastened  to  bathe  and  dress  in 
fresher  garments. 

Seated  at  last  for  his  dinner,  he  waved  away  the 
flock  of  evening  papers,  that  once  before  had  de- 
stroyed his  appetite,  and,  with  many  a  pang  of  dis- 
appointment as  he  looked  at  the  empty  chair  where 
Barbara  should  be  seated,  made  a  hearty  attack  on 
the  soothing  wines  and  viands. 

The  old  unrest  attacked  him  afterwards.  It  was 
modified,  however,  by  a  firm  determination  to  leave 


198          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

no  energy  unemployed  till  Barbara  was  found.  The 
question  was — how  to  go  to  work? 

He  was  startled  by  a  sudden  thought  that  per- 
haps the  Mrs.  Cree,  who  had  worked  the  first  deceits 
on  Barbara,  might  have  been  the  woman  in  the  veil. 
In  this  event  it  would  not  be  wholly  impossible  that 
both  had  retreated  to  the  house  of  iron  men. 

He  presently  argued  this  was  not  very  likely,  after 
all.  The  house  in  question  was  not  only  under  sus- 
picion, it  was  likewise  uncomfortably  neighbored  by 
the  house  of  the  ruby  crime. 

A  dozen  times  he  halted  an  impulse  to  seek  for 
Garrison  by  'phone.  He  was  hot  yet  prepared  to 
reveal  all  the  facts  that  Garrison  must  certainly  pos- 
sess to  work  without  groping  in  the  case. 

He  arose  at  last,  and,  securing  a  copy  of  one  of 
the  evening  papers,  had  his  car  sent  away  to  an  up- 
town garage  and  returned  to  his  room  for  a  rest. 

Once  more  he  shuffled  over  the  letters  that  lay  upon 
the  table.  Many  were  invitations,  such  as  scores  of 
eager  young  swains  would  have  given  their  world  to 
secure.  They  were  pushed  aside  and  neglected. 
Then  came  the  first  of  the  letters  that  Iris  had  re- 
cently mailed. 

It  was  rather  more  humble  than  Julian  had  ex- 
pected. It  contained  no  scolding,  but  instead  re- 
ferred to  their  happier  times  of  the  past.  It  desired 
him  to  come  to  her  soon. 

The  second,  bearing  a  special-delivery  stamp,  and 
mailed  that  same  afternoon,  was  of  quite  another 
tenor.  Its  opening  paragraph  was  all  Vail  required 


IRIS  WRITES  A  LETTER  199 

to  apprise  him  that  something  had  occurred  of  which 
he  was  still  uninformed. 

"  Dear  Mr.  Vail,"  it  read :  "  you  may  perhaps 
judge  of  my  chagrin  to  learn  of  your  latest  mark 
of  disrespect  to  me  and  your  disregard  of  all  con- 
ventions, as  set  forth  in  the  public  press  to-day.  I 
hasten  at  this  earliest  possible  moment  to  retract 
whatever  I  may  have  written  in  an  earlier  letter.  I 
need  hardly  inform  you  that,  unless  you  immediately 
explain  your  conduct,  I  shall  be  obliged  to  cancel  all 
relationship  and  obligations  without  further  dis- 
cussion. 

"  It  is  so  thoroughly  inconceivable  that  you  would 
be  guilty  of  all  that  is  charged  in  this  disgusting 
fashion  that  I  shall  dare  to  hope  for  an  immediate 
and  convincing  denial  of  the  entire  story  from  your 
lips.  You  will  also  kindly  communicate  with  me  im- 
mediately upon  receipt  of  this  letter.  I  regret  that 
all  efforts  to  reach  you  by  telephone  have  proved 
unsuccessful,  which  will  not  be  surprising  if,  as  al- 
leged, you  have  been  away  from  the  city  for  consid- 
erably more  than  twenty-four  hours." 

Vail  lost  no  time  in  spreading  open  the  Star.  The 
account  he  sought  was  sufficiently  prominent. 

Under  headlines  like  sinister  bars  across  two  col- 
umns of  the  sheet  was  a  vague  but  sensational  ac- 
count of  his  story  and  that  of  Barbara,  amazingly 
complete. 

There  was  not  a  name  mentioned  in  the  story.     It 


£00          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

simply  alleged  that  a  "  wealthy  and  distinguished 
young  scion  of  society  "  had  recently  been  made  a 
present  of  a  living  doll  with  whom  he  had  fallen  in 
love.  The  matter,  perhaps  intended  for  a  joke,  had 
taken  all  concerned  with  surprise,  by  its  serious  and 
sentimental  developments.  The  social  world  was  par- 
tially aghast  and  partially  convulsed  with  amusement 
at  the  contretemps,  which  had  culminated  at  noon, 
the  day  before,  when  the  said  young  social  lion  had 
suddenly  left  the  city,  it  was  said,  to  be  secretly 
married  to  the  "  charming  little  gift,  so  lightly  and 
playfully  supplied." 

The  entire  affair,  the  account  continued,  was  vi- 
brant with  romance,  shrouded  in  mystery,  and  rich 
in  new  topics  for  gossip.  It  was  the  latest  sensa- 
tion of  the  ennuied  set  and  provided  new  suggestions 
for  decoying  Cupid  to  the  wealthy  ranks  where  his 
footprints  were  lamentably  few. 

Every  item  and  comment  was  two  or  three  times 
repeated,  by  way  of  expanding  the  narrative  to 
give  it  impressive  space.  The  salient  facts  were 
there,  substantially  accurate.  There  was  even  a 
statement  that  the  "  Benedict "  in  question  had  gone 
from  Gotham  alone  in  his  car  to  "  lead  his  fair  bride 
to  the  altar  "  in  some  sunny  nook  of  Long  Island, 
where  their  honeymoon  would  suffer  no  intrusions. 
Loyal  friends  were  guarding  their  secret,  it  added, 
against  such  time  as  regular  congratulations  might 
be  appropriate  and  welcome. 

There  was  no  escaping  the  fact  that  Vail  was  de- 
noted by  the  story.  He  made  no  attempt  to  evade 


IRIS  WRITES  A  LETTER  201 

this  obvious  truth.  His  one  consolation  lay  in  the 
fact  that  neither  his  name  nor  Barbara's  had  actu- 
ally been  revealed.  Concerning  the  tale's  effect  upon 
Iris  Puryn  he  was  not  excessively  worried.  His 
annoyance  had  scarcely  crystallized  when  a  second 
Star  sensation  attracted  his  roving  glance. 
He  had  passed  a  scare  head  announcing 

INDIAN  MUTINY  FOSTERED  HERE! 

His  eye  was  caught  by  declarations  below. 
Sequel  to  Crime  of  the  Great  Gatama  Ruby! 


Stores  of  Rifles  and  Ammunition  Discovered 
in  Brooklyn,  Purchased  by  the  Murdered  Ma- 
harajah for  Rising  Against  British  Rule!!! 


CHAPTER  XXIV 

A    DEEPER   PLOT    SUGGESTED 

THE  startling  account,  which  by  one  of  the 
strange  fatalities  of  chance  was  printed  next 
to  the  story  of  himself  and  Barbara,  filled  Vail  with 
as  much  uneasiness  as  the  original  ruby  crime.  Not 
only  did  it  establish  the  fact  that  far-reaching  plots, 
more  black  and  mysterious  than  ever,  had  developed 
in  the  case,  but  it  clearly  indicated  a  measure  and 
degree  of  activity  on  the  part  of  the  metropolitan 
police  that  could  not  be  ignored. 

All  the  earlier  sensations  of  the  murder  and  theft 
were  reviewed  to  arouse  new  excitement.  Garrison's 
name  was  coupled  with  the  latest  discovery.  The 
writer  declared  the  town  to  be  infested  with  secret- 
service  officers,  both  from  India  and  England,  who 
were  running  this  plot  to  earth,  under  personal  or- 
ders and  supervision  of  Sir  Hugh  Pearson,  through 
whose  special  acumen  the  munitions  had  been  found. 

New  and  exhaustive  efforts  were  now  being  prose- 
cuted, added  the  story,  to  account  for  the  ruby's 
disappearance,  since  rumors  well  confirmed  from  offi- 
cial sources  indicated  that  the  precious  gem,  together 
with  lesser  jewels,  had  been  boldly  removed  from 
certain  Indian  temples,  to  be  sold  in  New  York  for 
moneys  to  finance  the  plotted  rebellion. 

202 


A  DEEPER  PLOT  SUGGESTED        203 

A  coterie  of  Hindoo  residents,  banded  in  a  secret 
order,  and  aided  by  a  number  of  misguided  English 
and  American  women,  themselves  clever  spies  and  as- 
sistants, were  suspected  of  complicity  in  this  death- 
less intrigue,  whereby  it  was  hoped  to  wrest  the  su- 
premacy of  India  from  the  hated  English  hand.  It 
was  already  well  established  that  money  and  power 
were  abundant  in  the  ranks  of  this  conspiring  or- 
ganization. 

The  account  was  concluded  with  a  statement  that 
a  concentrated  effort  to  delve  to  the  bottom  of  the 
whole  affair  had  been  rendered  possible  by  the  theft 
of  the  famous  stone,  many  times  previously  stolen 
from  its  sacred  setting  and  never  left  long  untraced. 
There  was  just  the  slightest  intimation  that  already 
a  hint  of  the  great  gem's  whereabouts  was  rife  in 
some  inner  detective  circles  and  that  terror  was  at 
the  vitals  of  those  who  were  guiltily  concerned. 

Vail  eagerly  finished  the  account.  The  one  particu- 
larly disturbing  element  for  him  was  the  shadow  cast 
on  Barbara  by  the  things  now  newly  revealed. 

It  seemed  to  him  as  plain  as  day  that,  whether  a 
tool  or  principal,  she  was  inextricably  entangled  with 
all  this  tissue  of  crime.  She  was  doubtless  employed 
as  a  spy — perhaps  without  her  knowledge — and 
surely  without  her  intention  or  desire.  Upon  this  he 
insisted,  with  dogged,  fanatical  zeal.  She  must  be — 
she  had  to  be  innocent  of  any  deliberate  association 
or  sympathy  with  this  coterie  of  thieves  and  con- 
spirators, red  to  their  shoulders  with  crime! 

He  was  thoroughly  convinced  the  papers  she  had 


204          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

mentioned  repeatedly  as  something  lost  or  stolen 
were  compromising  documents  which  she  knew  she 
must  recover  and  destroy.  There  could  be  no  doubt 
she  was  wholly  in  the  power  of  those  in  possession 
of  her  secret.  Everything,  half-confessed  or  fallen 
from  her  lips,  confirmed  this  supposition.  All  her 
hints  that  she  might  be  obliged  to  withdraw  herself 
entirely  from  his  ken  contributed  strength  to  his 
theory. 

Could  she  clear  herself  from  all  her  past,  destroy 
the  records  of  her  doubtless  enforced  obedience  to 
commands  of  those  exacting  her  cleverness  and  serv- 
ices, she  could  come  to  him  gladly  with  her  love.  But 
were  the  fates  to  order  otherwise,  deliver  her  up  to 
the  clutches  of  the  law — —  He  could  see,  in  his 
fancy,  the  brave  little  smile  with  which  she  would 
pass  to  some  sickening  fate  with  never  a  revelation 
of  who  she  was,  or  an  action  to  involve  a  guiltless 
friend. 

He  had  felt  she  loved  him — and  he  felt  it  still.  His 
own  surrender  to  the  most  exalted  passion  he  had 
ever  known  was  beyond  his  power  of  retrieving.  He 
would  love  her  always,  for  a  loyal,  fearless  little  com- 
rade, though  the  whole  world  accuse  her  and  con- 
demn ! 

His  strength  was  sapped  by  the  thought  of  how 
she  had  met  Sir  Hugh  Pearson  at  the  ball,  costumed 
like  a  princess  of  the  blood.  It  was  doubtless  an 
effort  to  lure  the  man  to  the  meshes  set  by  those 
whose  gains  she  must  further.  There  was  no  such 
power  on  earth  as  woman's  beauty — no  such  fatal 


A  DEEPER  PLOT  SUGGESTED        205 

enticement  invented  since  the  year  of  One,  to  wreck 
not  only  trusting  men,  but  nations  and  empires 
marked  for  doom  and  flung  down  at  daintily  slip- 
pered feet. 

He  sickened  to  think  of  the  alacrity  with  which 
he  himself  had  fallen  a  victim  to  her  charms.  It 
had  doubtless  all  been  planned  for  some  deep-hidden 
reason  he  had  been  too  blind  to  see.  Yet  his  soul 
cried  out  in  protest,  counting  her  action  in  saving  his 
life  too  splendid  to  be  dimmed.  She  was  not  a  heart- 
less siren,  mirroring  girlish  wistfulness  and  innocence. 
Her  innocence  was  real !  her  friendlessness  was  genu- 
ine ! — her  generous,  life-endangering  labors,  per- 
formed where  mere  bravery  would  not  have  been  suffi- 
cient, could  be  no  idle  coquetries  or  devices  to  play 
upon  his  heart! 

It  was  all  some  terrible  machination  that  she  had 
no  choice  to  resist.  It  doubtless  involved  some  rela- 
tive, father,  brother,  or  woman  kin,  to  whom  she  was 
hopelessly  bound.  There  was  someone  dear  of  whom 
she  could  not  speak,  as  established  by  confessions 
already  reluctantly  made.  There  was  always  the 
red-headed  Willard,  whom  she  hated  and  likewise 
feared.  Some  secret  he  doubtless  possessed. 

Vail's  thought  conjured  up  the  "  Mrs.  Snow,"  who 
had  dressed  Miss  Lee  and  shown  her  at  the  ball.  It 
was  doubtless  she  who  had  worked  the  abduction  de- 
vice. He  had  no  doubt  that  Barbara  was  with  this 
woman  now.  But,  granting  the  fact,  what  purpose 
was  served  by  the  knowledge?  Not  a  word  had  Bar- 
bara revealed  as  to  where  Mrs.  Snow  resided.  To 


206          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

seek  for  a  woman  sufficiently  clever  to  plan  and  exe- 
cute her  various  coups  was  a  task  for  the  specialist, 
trained  to  the  work — and  to  none  of  these  could 
he  go. 

He  made  no  plans  as  to  what  he  should  do  in  the 
morning.  Some  vague,  disorganized  resolution  to 
champion  Barbara's  cause,  conceal  her  secret,  and 
possibly  warn  her  of  her  danger  was  the  most  he 
could  compass  in  his  thoughts.  He  loved  her,  and, 
loving,  gave  some  trust  that  nothing  on  earth  could 
shake.  For  the  rest — he  could  only  grimly  smile; 
there  is  no  Fate  but  Fate. 

The  juxtaposition  of  the  stories  in  the  Star  re- 
minded him  finally  of  Iris.  A  second  perusal  of  her 
letter  left  him  rather  more  satisfied  than  otherwise 
with  the  outcome  of  events.  He  wondered  what  Enid 
had  written  and  why  she  had  been  so  industrious  as 
to  double  her  sister's  effort. 

Assembling  her  epistles  in  the  order  of  their  mail- 
ing, as  indicated  by  the  cancellation  marks,  he  dis- 
covered three  to  be  the  merest  "  sisterly  "  effusions 
anent  the  ball  and  trusting  he  was  thoroughly  well 
and  had  not  too  greatly  regretted  the  evening  spent 
as  a  truant  to  his  "  regular  duties." 

The  fourth  communication  had  been  written  since 
the  publication  of  the  story  in  the  Star.  Unlike 
those  of  Iris,  Enid's  comments  on  this  affair  were  en- 
tirely sympathetic  and  defensive  of  his  "  high  sense 
of  honor  and  integrity."  She  called  the  entire  nar- 
rative an  absurd  fabrication,  adding  that,  although 
Iris  and  all  the  world  should  desert  and  scorn  him, 


A  DEEPER  PLOT  SUGGESTED        207 

her  own  unshaken  faith  w&uld  still  remain  while  her 
friendship  would  rather  increase  than  diminish.  She 
trusted  she  might  soon  have  an  opportunity  of  as- 
suring him  of  her  steadfast  regard  in  person,  and 
desired  him  to  spare  himself  from  worry  in  a  matter 
so  obviously  foolish. 

It  gave  him  another  surprise,  such  as  Enid  had 
previously  supplied.  He  was  gratified,  moreover,  to 
know  she  had  far  more  character  than  he  had  for- 
merly imagined.  Any  friendly  declaration  was  ac- 
ceptable at  such  a  time,  even  though  not  precisely 
understood.  He  admitted,  however,  he  had  never 
understood  this  older  sister  of  the  Puryn  family,  and 
dismissed  her  letter  with  no  further  speculation  what- 
soever. 

But  for  two  solid  hours  he  paced  the  floor,  despite 
great  physical  weariness,  in  the  torment  of  thoughts 
that  Barbara  had  aroused.  Then  at  last  he  gave  up 
and  retired. 


CHAPTER  XXV 

GARRISON'S  REVELATIONS 

VAIL  was  early  at  his  office  in  the  morning. 
Beyond  the  fact  that  many  unanswered  let- 
ters and  a  number  of  unimportant  telegrams  had  ac- 
cumulated on  the  desk,  there  was  nothing  unusual 
about  the  place — save  for  the  absence  of  his 
cartridge-shell  vase  with  all  that  it  had  contained. 

There  were  several  memorandums  to  the  effect  that 
Garrison  had  called  him  on  the  telephone  and  desired 
to  be  informed  when  he  returned.  There  were  like- 
wise a  number  of  important  messages  from  his 
brokers  and  fellow-supporters  of  B.  &  K.  C.  securi- 
ties, all  demanding  urgent  attention. 

Broughton  was  promptly  in  requisition,  not  only 
concerning  the  various  commercial  developments  of 
the  railroad  situation,  but  also  respecting  all  visitors 
who  had  recently  gained  admission  to  the  private 
sanctum. 

He  was  certain  there  had  been  no  visitors,  since 
in  the  absence  of  his  chief  he  had  permitted  no  one 
to  enter  the  room.  Without  particular  mention  of 
the  vase  of  flowers,  Julian  confirmed  his  theory  it 
had  gone  in  some  expert  hands. 

Gardner,  he  learned,  had  so  far  succeeded  in  break- 
ing the  prices  on  both  the  stocks  and  bonds  of  the 

208 


GARRISON'S  REVELATIONS  209 

B.  &  K.  C.  R.  R.  that  utter  demoralization  had 
seized  its  stanchest  friends.  Their  frantic  wires  were 
carefully  assorted  in  Broughton's  private  drawer. 
He  delivered  the  batch  like  one  who  expects  to  be 
condemned  as  the  bearer  of  evil  tidings. 

Vail  ran  through  them  rapidly,  exhibiting  no  con- 
cern. The  orders  he  gave,  in  his  quick,  incisive  man- 
ner, made  Broughton  stand  aghast.  Not  only  was 
no  support  forthcoming  to  recoup  what  appeared 
like  ruinous  losses,  but  Vail's  campaign  resembled 
nothing  so  much  as  added  effort  to  wipe  the  railroad 
out.  There  were  orders  he  later  delivered  in  private 
that  might  have  been  fatal  to  the  confidential  secre- 
tary, whose  brain,  after  all,  had  comparatively  nar- 
row limitations. 

The  telephone  rang  while  the  schedule  for  the  day 
was  being  especially  prepared.  It  was  Garrison's 
clerk  who  was  on  the  wire,  to  make  an  appointment 
for  his  chief  at  the  earliest  possible  moment. 

"  Tell  Mr.  Garrison  to  come  at  once,"  was  Vail's 
reply.  "  I'll  be  free  in  fifteen  minutes.  He  may  come 
by  my  private  door." 

He  resumed  his  work,  but  in  less  than  five  minutes 
he  was  called  on  the  instrument  again. 

"  Hullo!  Mr.  Vail?  "  inquired  a  voice  he  did  not 
recognize.  ..."  Chief  Faxon  wishes  to  see  you  for 
a  moment  in  room  sixteen  ten,  of  this  building." 

Julian  was  startled,  not  only  to  know  the  Chief 
of  Police  was  in  the  building  at  an  hour  so  early,  but 
likewise  at  a  summons  so  wholly  unexpected,  even 
after  all  that  had  occurred. 


210          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

"  All  right.  Be  up  there  at  once."  He  added  to 
Broughton,  "  Take  this  stuff  and  file  it  away  in  a 
special  place,  with  an  index  of  everything  received." 

He  swept  the  entire  mass  of  documents  relating  to 
the  B.  &  K.  C.  R.  R.  into  a  shallow  basket  that 
Broughton  carried  away.  Then,  presently  ascending 
in  the  elevator,  Julian  summoned  an  air  of  briskness 
and  calm  he  was  far  from  entertaining. 

Bareheaded  and  hands  in  pockets,  he  walked  the 
entire  length  of  the  hall  on  the  sixteenth  floor,  glanc- 
ing at  the  numbers  on  the  doors.  When  he  came  in 
front  of  sixteen  ten  he  found  it  quite  barren  of 
signs. 

He  knocked,  but  revealed  no  response.  Fearing  he 
might  have  misunderstood  the  number,  he  tried  the 
knob.  The  door  was  locked.  The  room  was  evidently 
empty.  Aware  he  might  have  made  an  error,  he  pro- 
ceeded on  to  other  doors  beyond. 

The  next  was  as  signless  as  the  first,  and  firmly 
locked.  The  third  was  the  office  of  an  architect, 
who  could  give  him  no  information.  He  returned  to 
sixteen  nine  and  eight,  to  receive  no  assistance  from 
the  lawyer's  clerk  and  publisher's  stenographer,  to 
whom  his  queries  were  addressed. 

Convinced  he  had  blundered  so  hopelessly  that 
nothing  save  a  return  to  his  office  to  await  a  new 
summons  remained,  he  finally  halted  a  black  steel  car 
and  was  lowered  again  to  his  floor. 

He  entered  his  office  by  his  private  door — then 
stood  there  dazed  with  surprise. 

His  cartridge-shell  vase  was  standing  on  the  desk! 


GARRISON'S  REVELATIONS  211 

Even  the  faded  flowers  were  still  intact,  as  if  they 
had  never  been  disturbed. 

With  a  sudden  realization  that  the  call  to  an  empty 
room  above  had  been  a  ruse  to  get  him  away  while 
the  vase  was  being  returned,  he  moved  quickly  for- 
ward, caught  up  the  brass  receptacle,  and  shook  it 
with  unnecessary  violence. 

The  water  inside  was  duly  agitated — and  some- 
thing dully  knocked  upon  the  metal  walls  that 
emitted  a  muffled  tinkle.  Still  unprepared  to  accept 
this  evidence  that  the  ruby  was  there  as  before,  he 
took  out  the  faded  flowers,  turned  the  water  into  a 
cuspidor,  and  a  second  later  dropped  the  jewel  in  his 
palm,  where  it  gleamed  with  fiery  refulgence. 

A  conflict  of  emotions  instantly  resulted.  There 
was  quite  as  much  uneasiness  as  there  was  of  gratifica- 
tion in  the  mystery  by  which  the  stone  had  been  re- 
turned. If  for  a  moment  he  rejoiced  that  the  thieves 
who  had  wrung  the  facts  from  him  in  the  cistern  had 
been  foiled  in  their  object,  after  all,  he  was  keenly 
aware  that  the  old  responsibility  of  the  ruby's  pos- 
session had  been  thrust  once  more  upon  himself. 

He  had  time  for  no  more  than  mere  flashes  of 
thought  on  the  subject  when  Garrison  knocked  on  the 
private  door  and  startled  him  anew. 

Into  the  vase  he  dropped  the  stone,  as  if  it  had 
been  red-hot.  The  faded  flowers  were  likewise 
plumped  into  place.  Back  to  the  corner  went  the  col- 
umn of  brass;  then,  with  pen  in  hand,  Vail  swung 
wide  the  door  and  waved  a  species  of  salute. 

"  Come  in,  come  in,  you  fearful  specter  of  the 


THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

law,"  he  said,  with  a  smile.  "  Welcome  to  our 
city." 

Garrison  shook  his  outstretched  hand  and  greeted 
him  cordially. 

"  By  Jove,"  he  said,  "  your  outing  did  you  good. 
I  never  saw  you  looking  fitter." 

"  You  knew  I'd  been  away  ?  " 

"  I  read  the  Star"  He  accepted  a  chair  beside  the 
desk. 

Julian  flushed  a  trifle. 

"  You  don't  believe  all  you  read?  " 

"  Not  as  a  habit — even  stories  concerning  myself." 

"  But  that  Star  account  of  your  new  discoveries 
was  true?  This  Indian  mutiny,  and  all  the  rest — 
there  was  some  little  basis  for  that  ?  " 

"  There  was  more  than  a  little,"  Garrison  con- 
fessed. "  The  chap  who  wrote  up  the  story  was  dog- 
ging my  heels,  till  he  came  to  the  find,  as  I  fear  he 
has  done  before.  But  that's  too  long  a  recital  for 
this  morning.  I  have  barely  ten  minutes  to  spare. 
I  am  going  now  to  Miss  Lee." 

Vail  responded  promptly  with  a  rise. 

"  You  have  found  out  where  she  is  ?  " 

"  No,  I  came  to  inquire  of  you.  The  time  has  ar- 
rived when  delay  will  no  longer  answer."  He  was 
watching  Vail  with  a  level  gaze  as  inscrutable  as  that 
of  the  sphinx. 

Julian  sank  back  in  his  chair. 

"  But,  my  dear  criminologist,  I  haven't  the  least 
idea  in  the  world  where  she  may  be." 

Garrison  felt  he  was  telling  the  truth. 


GARRISON'S  REVELATIONS  213 

"  But  you  were  with  her,  down  in  the  country?  " 

"  I  was,  but  I  have  lost  her  since.  She  has  a  way 
of  disappearing — but  it's  always  innocent  enough.  I 
mean Well,  I  can't  quite  explain  her  myself." 

"  And  you'd  rather  not  inform  me  of  what  has 
taken  place? — the  things  that  have  happened  to 
yourself  and  Miss  Lee  since  I  left  you  here  in  this 
office?" 

"  What  do  you  expect  me  to  tell  ?  " 

"  As  much  or  as  little  as  you  please.  You  have 
asked  me  to  help  you  unravel  a  series  of  happenings — 
and  I'm  doing  the  best  I  can." 

Julian  smiled. 

"  You  would  ask  me  to  unravel  them  for  you,  then, 
to  be  handed  back  again?  All  joking  aside,  Mr. 
Garrison,  I  have  learned  absolutely  nothing  new  con- 
cerning the  persons  who  sent  Miss  Lee  to  me,  or  why 
she  was  sent  at  all.  I  rather  expected  to  get  some 
news  from  you." 

Garrison  nodded. 

"  Which  is  reasonable  enough.  Frankly,  however, 
my  work  in  that  direction  is  rather  incomplete.  At 
most  I  can  state  that  from  present  indications  your 
friend,  Mr.  Gardner,  appears  to  have  had  intimate 
knowledge  of  what  was  about  to  occur,  before  your 
'  gift '  arrived.  Have  there  been  any  further  devel- 
opments in  Miss  Puryn's  direction? — like  demands 
for  an  explanation  ?  " 

"  Abundant  developments.  But  Miss  Puryn  is 
also  your  client.  Has  she  proved  as  reluctant  as 
myself  to  supply  you  with  ammunition  ?  " 


214          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

A  quizzical  smile  came  faintly  to  Garrison's  lips. 

"  Well — nearly.  I'm  afraid  I'm  not  her  only  re- 
liance." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ? — She  employs  another  de- 
tective— criminologist  ?  " 

"  He  may  not  be  hers,  although  he  shadows  you." 

Julian  sat  up. 

"  Some  fellow  that  follows  me  ?    By  George " 

Garrison  interrupted,  and  took  a  quick  glance  at 
his  watch. 

"  He  isn't  worth  cursing,  I  assure  you,  and  he  de- 
lays important  affairs.  I  think  you  ought  to  be 
informed  that  others  besides  myself  are  vastly  inter- 
ested to  know  the  whereabouts  of  Miss  Lee,  whose 
connection  with  the  ruby  mystery  has  occurred  to 
several  minds.  Their  ideas  may  be  hazy  and  theo- 
retical, as  yet,  but  at  least  they  are  rather  warm." 

Julian  was  silent  for  a  moment. 

"  You  speak  as  if  there  can  be  no  doubt  of  her 
being  involved  in  the  case." 

Garrison  held  his  gaze  with  his  penetrative  glance. 

"  My  doubts  are  no  stronger  than  your  own." 

"  Than  mine  ?  "  demanded  Julian.  "  Just  exactly 
what  does  that  mean  ?  " 

Garrison  hesitated  half  a  moment. 

"  You  see  it's  my  business  to  serve  you,  Mr.  Vail, 
no  matter  where  my  duty  may  lead.  I  think  you  re- 
alize the  importance  of  having  me  see  Miss  Lee.  Also 
she  is  hard  to  trace,  since  no  one  in  town,  save  your- 
self, Miss  Puryn,  and  Mrs.  Loomis,  can  even  describe 
the  young  lady.  I'm  handicapped,  you'll  agree," 


GARRISON'S  REVELATIONS  215 

As  he  had  a  dozen  times  before,  Julian  hesitated  on 
the  verge  of  complete  disclosures.  He  felt  that  Gar- 
rison was  near  the  truth — too  near  to  be  deceived, 
and  was  perhaps  too  delicate  to  announce  his  discov- 
eries in  directions  where  sensitive  spots  might  be 
encountered. 

His  glance  fell  upon  the  tall  brass  vase,  and  his 
color  heightened.  He  had  almost  forgotten  the 
ruby,  the  return  of  which  was  perplexing.  If  ever 
a  man  required  assistance  and  counsel,  he  felt  he  was 
the  one. 

"  I  have  always  been  sure  of  your  loyal  service," 
he  said,  "  and  I  feel  that  your  aid  at  this  particular 

juncture Candidly,  Garrison,  you  have  been 

right  all  along.  The  ruby  was  left  in  my  possession, 
the  day  Miss  Lee  arrived." 

Garrison  nodded  quietly. 

"  How  was  it  delivered?  " 

"  In  the  heel  of  her  shoe.  Mind  you,  I  am  as 
positive  now  as  I  have  ever  been — in  fact,  a  great 
deal  more  so — that  she  was  absolutely  ignorant  of  the 
facts,  and  innocent  of  any  deliberate  connection  with 
the  crime." 

Not  a  sign  of  surprise  was  forthcoming  from  the 
man  who  made  these  crimes  his  science. 

"  How  did  you  make  your  discovery  ?  What  did 
you  do  with  the  shoes?  " 

Julian  rehearsed  the  story  clearly  and  succinctly, 
withholding  only  such  damaging  facts  as  he  could 
not  explain  or  modify  in  their  accusing  aspect  to- 
wards the  girl. 


216          THE  HOUSE  OP  IRON  MEN 

"  When  I  found  the  stone  I  thought  perhaps  it 
might  be  artificial,"  he  concluded.  "  Miss  Lee  ad- 
mitted that  her  father  at  times  attempted  to  manu- 
facture gems.  Later  I  had  my  doubts,  but  I  had 
hidden  the  stone  rather  peculiarly  and  was  certain 
the  fellows  who  entered  and  searched  this  office  would 
never  be  able  to  trace  it,  when " 

Garrison  interrupted. 

"  Wait !  I  built  up  a  few  deductions — a  favorite 
hobby  of  mine — and  informed  you  of  one  before.  It 
was,  you'll  admit,  quite  accurate.  I  built  another 
afterwards.  Let  us  see  how  close  to  the  truth  my 
later  logic  lay.  Just  answer  me  this,  Were  you  lured 
down  country  by  a  message  that  proved  a  forgery?  " 

"  I  was.     I'll  tell  you  all " 

"  Were  you  then  subjected  to  any  sort  of  pressure 
to  make  you  reveal  the  ruby's  hiding-place?  " 

Julian  stared  at  him  blankly. 

"  You've  seen  Miss  Lee  ?    You've  been  informed  ?  " 

"  Not  a  word.  This  is  mere  deduction,  except — 
and  this  is  a  bit  of  confession  for  which  I  blush — 
I  returned  to  this  room  that  morning  when  the  forged 
wire  came,  the  moment  you  went  out  there  with  your 
clerk.  I  felt  justified,  in  your  own  interests,  in 
reading  the  message  you  had  tossed  upon  the  desk." 

Julian  continued  to  stare. 

"  And  you  framed  up  all  that  happened  just  from 
that?" 

"  Not  at  once,  otherwise  I  might  have  been  suffi- 
ciently close  at  hand  to  spare  you  some  inconven- 
ience." 


GARRISON'S  REVELATIONS  217 

The  smile  that  came  to  Julian's  face  was  not 
one  of  mirth;  it  was  a  tribute  to  Garrison's 
craft. 

"  Well,"  he  said,  "  at  least  it  remains  for  me  to 
give  you  the  sequel  to  the  story.  I  'phoned  up  here 
at  the  earliest  possible  moment,  in  an  attempt  to 
save  the  stone.  It  was  gone — I  mean  the  receptacle 
in  which  it  was  contained." 

"  Of  course,"  said  Garrison,  coolly.  "  I  carried 
it  off  myself." 

Julian  suddenly  rose. 

"  You " 

"  And  sent  it  in  this  morning,  undisturbed." 

Vail  sat  down,  resignedly,  with  a  gesture  of  help- 
lessness. 

"  You  just  now  'phoned  for  me  to  go  up  and  see 

the  Chief — a  little  blind? — But  how  on  earth 

Why  all  this  mystery?  " 

"  You  might  not  have  chosen  to  surrender  these 
facts,  you  see,"  said  the  criminologist.  "  I  have 
waited  till  you  should,  endeavoring  to  appreciate 
your  position  and  persuaded  from  the  first  of  your 
faith  in  the  young  lady  involved.  I  rented  an  of- 
fice in  this  building  purposely  to  meet  your  various 
requirements." 

Vail  was  speechless  with  amazement  for  a  moment, 
wondering  just  how  far  this  expert's  knowledge  ex- 
tended. Then  a  new  solicitude  drove  all  else  from 
his  mind. 

"  What  in  the  world  shall  I  do  with  the  cursed 
stone  ?  "  he  demanded.  "  What  do  you  advise — 


218          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

aside  from  turning  it  over  to  the  Chief?  I  couldn't 
do  that  until " 

"  Until  you  clear  Miss  Lee,  or  discover  that 
she I  understand." 

"  If  you'll  take  it "  started  Vail,  but  Garrison 

waved  away  the  honor. 

"  Not  yet,  if  you  please.  I  counsel  you  to  leave 
it  where  it  is." 

"  After  telling  those  scoundrels  where  to  find 
it?" 

"  Exactly.  They'd  never  believe  you'd  permit  it 
to  remain  in  your  office  now.  Moreover,  this  place 
is  guarded  rather  constantly,  as  they  have  already 
discovered." 

There  were  two  surprises  in  this,  but  Vail  was  at 
last  expecting  almost  anything. 

"  They  have  tried  it,  then,  and  you,  or  someone, 
frightened  them  away  ?  " 

"  One  of  my  assistants  betrayed  himself  through 
premature  zeal,  the  night  you  were  lured  down  coun- 
try— or  the  hour  was  rather  about  one  in  the  morn- 
ing." 

Vail  got  up  and  paced  the  floor. 

"  I  hate  to  have  the  thing  around  here  any  longer 
— but — I  suppose  you  are  right,  after  all." 

Garrison  also  arose. 

"  And  now,  if  you  can  assist  me  to  find  Miss 
Lee " 

"  I  wish  I  could !  "  Julian  interrupted.  "  I'd  give 
almost  anything  I  own  to  know  where  she  is  at  this 
minute ! " 


GARRISON'S  REVELATIONS  219 

"  Perhaps  I  might  help '  started  Garrison, 

when  the  telephone  bell  cut  in  sharply. 

Vail  took  up  the  instrument. 

"  It's  for  you,"  he  said,  a  moment  later,  and  Gar- 
rison responded  to  the  wire. 

He  merely  said,  "  Yes,"  and  listened.  Then  pres- 
ently, "  Where? "  he  inquired  and  was  once  more 
silent.  "  I'll  be  there  in  less  than  ten  minutes,"  was 
the  last  of  his  observations,,  and  he  moved  with  swift 
decision,  snatching  up  his  hat.  "  I'll  see  you  at  two 
this  afternoon,"  he  shot  at  Julian.  "  I've  over- 
stayed  " 

A  sharp  knock  came  on  the  door,  which  Broughton 
opened  to  thrust  in  his  head. 

"  Beg  pardon,"  he  said  to  his  chief.  "  Miss 
Puryn,  Mr.  Vail." 

Julian  scowled. 

"  Thank  you.     Show  her  in." 

Garrison  had  swung  already  to  the  private  exit 
from  the  room  and  held  it  open. 

"  Leave  the  ruby  where  it  is,"  he  instructed.  "  I 
hope  to  bring  some  news  this  afternoon." 

Then  the  second  door  was  opened  once  again. 
Julian  turned,  beholding  not  Iris  Puryn,  but  her 
sister  Enid  instead. 

Garrison  merely  nodded,  then  was  out  in  the  hall, 
and  gone. 


CHAPTER  XXVI 

i 

A   SEAECH    IN    THE    PAEK 

A  VISIT  from  Iris  Puryn  would  have  occasioned 
no  great  surprise  to  a  man  in  Vail's  situa- 
tion, but  that  of  her  sister  did. 

Enid  was  wonderfully  gowned  and  colored  both  by 
nature  and  by  art.  Excitement  burned  in  her  face 
as  well  as  in  her  eyes.  She  was  evidently  wrought  to 
a  very  fine  edge  of  tension  by  the  daring  of  her  ven- 
ture. A  great  bunch  of  roses  she  wore  at  her  breast 
fairly  trembled  with  the  beating  of  her  heart. 

"  Oh,  Julian !  how  good  it  is  to  see  you  back ! " 
she  immediately  declared.  "  I  didn't  know  whether 
I  should  find  you  in  or  not.  I  was  merely  passing 
by  in  the  car  and  thought  I'd  run  up  to  see  if  any 
news We  didn't  know  what  might  have  hap- 
pened." 

"  You  are  very  kind,"  said  Julian,  quietly.  "  May 
I  ask  you  to  accept  a  chair  ?  " 

"  Oh,  no,  I  couldn't  stop  but  a  minute,"  she  re- 
plied. "  I  thought  perhaps  you  ought  to  know  of  a 
little  thing  that  happened  just  now,  but  perhaps  it 
might  disturb  you  at  your  work." 

Vail  was  instinctively  aware  it  was  something  she 
had  purposely  come  to  reveal.  He  toyed  with  a 
pencil  on  his  desk. 


A  SEARCH  IN  THE  PARK 

"  Oh,  my  work  is  fairly  well  in  hand.  It  is  some- 
thing, of  course,  concerning  Iris." 

Enid  looked  her  despair  of  the  situation,  and  sank 
in  the  chair  she  had  refused. 

"  It's  too  bad,  the  way  she's  behaving.  I'm  so 
sorry,  dear  Julian. — It  isn't  very  much  that  has 
taken  place,  I  suppose,  after  all." 

He  waited  and  she  looked  at  him  beseechingly,  as 
one  imploring  forgiveness  for  things  that  others 
have  done.  "  I  had  occasion  to  'phone  to  Iris  from 
a  shop.  She  had  just  come  in  from  a  drive  in  the 
park — and  was  certain  she  saw  your  Miss  Barbara 
Lee  in  a  brougham  with  Sir  Hugh  Pearson.  She 
thought  it  an  extraordinary  thing." 

Vail  could  have  leaped  from  his  chair.  He  did 
not  move,  however,  or  betray  the  slightest  emotion. 
His  eyebrows  were  slightly  raised. 

"  It's  a  very  fine  day  for  a  drive — unusually 
fine." 

If  a  shade  of  disappointment  passed  like  a  mist 
over  Enid's  face,  it  was  promptly  lost  in  a  smile. 

"  It's  horrid  to  be  bold — even  with  one  so  near  and 
dear  as — as  all  our  prospective  relations,"  she  said, 
"  but  I  simply  abominate  driving  alone — and  the 
car's  downstairs. — If  your  work  is  well  in  hand,  why 
— perhaps " 

Julian  forced  a  smile. 

"  I've  neglected  things  here  too  long  already,  I'm 
afraid,  but  thank  you  very  much  for  the  thoughtful- 
ness,  nevertheless." 

Enid  retrieved  her  vanishing  smile  with  skill. 


THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

"  I  thought — I  hoped It's  so  much  more  in- 
teresting when  one  can  see  everyone  who's  out." 

Julian  was  wild  for  her  to  go.     He  nodded. 

"  Very  interesting." 

There  was  nothing  more  for  Enid  either  to  impart 
or  suggest.  Her  embarrassment  increased.  Then 
her  glance  encountered  the  dry  and  faded  flowers  in 
his  vase. 

"  Oh,  you've  been  neglected ! "  she  declared. 
"  Such  flowers,  my  dear  Julian !  Let  me  leave  you 
mine  instead ! "  She  arose  and  began  at  once  to  un- 
fasten the  roses  secured  upon  her  gown. 

"  No,  no !  Oh,  no !  "  protested  Vail,  with  sudden 
apprehension.  "  I'd  much  rather  not  have  those  dis- 
turbed, for  many  reasons.  I  couldn't  permit  you  to 
rob  yourself.  Besides,  I " 

Broughton  interrupted,  at  the  door,  where  he 
knocked  and  entered,  delivering  a  card.  Vail  re- 
ceived it  and  read  it  at  a  glance: 

"  HOBART  CLARKSON, 

New  York  Evening  Star." 

He  sat  down  instantly  and  wrote  on  a  pad,  "  Back 
in  fifteen  minutes."  On  a  second  sheet  he  scribbled, 
"  Broughton — tell  him  you  found  this  note  on  the 
desk,  and  ask  him  to  wait."  He  handed  both  sheets 
to  his  confidential  man,  who  nodded  and  disap- 
peared. 

Enid's  discomfort  continued  to  grow  apace. 

"  If  it's  anyone  to  see  you,  Julian,"  she  said,  "  I'd 


A  SEARCH  IN  THE  PARK  223 

be  sorry  to  make  myself  a  nuisance.  I  suppose  I 
shouldn't  have  come, — but — oh,  dear!  it  is  such  a 
day  for  a  drive ! " 

Julian  glanced  at  his  watch. 

"  It's  a  business  appointment.  The  man  is  just 
on  the  dot.  Won't  you  take  your  chair  again  ?  " 

He  feared  that  she  would,  as  she  oscillated  there 
in  indecision.  But  she  presently  bade  him  a  lingering 
adieu  and  departed  the  private  way. 

He  instantly  swooped  on  the  telephone,  rang  up 
his  garage,  and  ordered  his  car  for  immediate  use. 
Then  only  pausing  to  assure  himself  that  Enid  was 
out  of  the  building,  he  escaped  to  the  street  with  as- 
tonishing celerity,  beckoned  a  loitering  taxicab  to 
the  curb,  and  was  soon  swiftly  driven  up  crowded 
Broadway  on  his  way  for  a  tour  of  the  Park. 

His  car  was  out  on  the  greasy  floor  when  he  came 
to  the  "  cave  "  where  these  modern  minotaurs  were 
lodged.  Then,  at  the  risk  of  meeting  Enid  on  the 
way,  he  drove  furiously  over  to  Fifth  Avenue,  there 
to  join  the  parade  of  wealth  moving  ceaselessly  up 
and  down. 

Thousands  of  cars  and  carriages  were  flowing  past 
and  with  him,  an  endless  chain  of  life  and  animation. 
The  sunlight  gleamed  from  countless  surfaces  of 
silver,  varnish,  and  glass.  It  was  just  before  the 
summer  exodus  from  town — the  gilded  hour  of  Goth- 
am's enjoyment  of  her  innumerable  rich,  so  soon  to 
flit  abroad  and  to  shore  and  mountains  on  the  but- 
terfly wings  of  caprice.  It  was  brilliant  beyond  con- 
ception— and  costly  beyond  compare. 


THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

But,  save  for  the  quick,  searching  glances  that  he 
shot  through  all  the  press,  Vail  paid  the  slightest 
tribute  of  attention  to  anything  in  view.  He  was 
wild  with  impatience,  thus  to  be  bottled  up,  as  it 
were,  by  the  streaming  wealth  about  him.  Rapidity 
of  locomotion  was,  however,  impossible. 

Past  the  great  hotels,  the  huge,  unfinished  library 
and  the  twin-spired  cathedral  of  St.  Patrick  he 
tooled  his  car  with  never  a  thought  for  anything 
save  the  girl  whose  throne  was  in  his  heart.  That 
the  throne  seemed  particularly  empty  and  neglected, 
since  Enid  had  come  with  her  tale,  was  not  particu- 
larly strange.  But  what  he  could  do,  should  he  fi- 
nally encounter  Sir  Hugh  and  Barbara,  was  more 
than  he  halted  to  reflect. 

He  had  scarcely  taken  time  to  consider  all  the 
worries  aroused  by  Garrison's  latest  revelations,  but 
they  eddied  and  swirled  like  a  deep-moving  stream  in 
his  fretted  subconsciousness. 

At  length,  after  passing  the  famous  homes  of  the 
New  York  millionaires  erected  below  the  Park,  he 
wedged  his  car  through  the  pouring  floods  of 
vehicles  at  the  Plaza  and  entered  the  soothing  oasis 
of  grass  and  lakes  and  trees. 

It  seemed  as  if,  as  Enid  had  said,  the  world  was 
driving  in  the  Park.  Scores  of  society's  paragons 
and  proteges  went  trooping  by,  in  their  chariots  of 
power.  By  the  dozen  they  nodded  at  Julian,  and 
wondered  at  his  stiff  response  and  the  set,  eager  look 
of  his  face. 

He  traversed  the  length  of  the  fashionable  drive 


A  SEARCH  IN  THE  PARK  225 

before  he  began  to  realize  how  hopeless  was  his  quest. 
In  all  this  bewildering  pageantry,  how  could  he  hope 
to  achieve  the  ends  for  which  he  was  illogically 
striving?  And  yet,  as  if  in  answer  to  his  query, 
as  he  turned  to  go  southward  with  the  flow,  he 
was  passed  by  Iris  Puryn,  driving  there  with 
Gardner. 

He  saw  them  plainly  in  Gardner's  barouche,  with  his 
famous  ebony  mares.  Then  they  were  gone  on  their 
way.  They  had  missed  him  completely,  having  failed 
to  cast  a  glance  in  his  direction. 

He  was  glad  they  were  here  together ;  then  he  for- 
got them  for  thoughts  that  went  deeper  in  his  soul. 
He  merely  drove  on  in  the  gilded  paths  of  pleasure, 
searching  its  units  as  before. 

The  park  was  a  shimmering  basin  of  sunlight, 
greenery,  and  life.  Equestrians  went  posting  by  on 
shaded  bridle-paths;  afar  were  hordes  of  children, 
filling  the  air  with  joyful  notes.  Long  miles  of 
benches  on  either  hand  were  packed  with  sun-loving 
people,  watching  where  wealth  and  self-indulgence 
went  languorously  by. 

For  perhaps  an  hour  Vail  continued  his  rounds,  in 
vain.  When  at  length  whole  caravans  of  cars  and 
carriages  had  departed,  giving  way  to  fresher  equip- 
ments, he  awoke  to  the  fact  that  Barbara  had  doubt- 
less long  since  returned  to  the  home  where  Sir  Hugh 
Pearson  had  found  her.  It  occurred  to  his  mind  to 
appeal  to  Sir  Hugh  himself.  The  nobleman  was  ob- 
viously acquainted  with  Barbara's  whereabouts,  and 
would  doubtless  supply  the  address,  or  the  name  of 


226          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

the  "  Lady  "  Someone  with  whom  she  had  doubtless 
gone. 

Watching  alertly  for  a  chance  to  get  ahead, 
Julian  cast  a  glance  to  the  left — and  suddenly  dis- 
covered Barbara,  being  driven  leisurely  past,  in  the 
opposite  direction. 

Sir  Hugh  and  a  woman  whose  face  was  turned 
away  were  likewise  in  the  carriage,  a  black  Victoria 
with  a  pair  of  splendid  bays. 

It  could  last  but  a  moment,  the  fleeting  scrutiny 
that  Julian  bent  on  the  face  of  the  girl.  He  saw 
she  was  richly  but  simply  gowned ;  he  saw  that  pleas- 
ure bloomed  in  her  cheeks  and  the  sunlight  was  mir- 
rored in  her  eyes.  Then,  as  the  current  bore  her 
away,  she  seemed  to  catch  at  some  invisible  warning 
in  the  air  and  turned  to  meet  Julian's  gaze. 

He  saw  her  whiten,  saw  the  parting  of  her  lips, 
as  if  she  would  cry  out  his  name — then  a  hansom 
intervened. 

He  could  not  turn  to  follow.  He  was  hemmed  in 
as  completely  as  a  paving-block  set  among  its  fel- 
lows. He  could  only  continue  straight  ahead,  jock- 
eying impatiently  right  and  left,  to  escape  to  a 
crossroad  and  turn. 

It  seemed  as  if  there  were  no  roads  by  which  to 
evade  the  crush.  He  emerged  at  last  upon  another 
drive,  however,  and  recklessly  shot  down  the  park  to 
reach  the  Plaza  entrance. 

A  hundred  trifling  incidents  delayed  him  every- 
where. Yet  he  came  at  last  to  the  exit  sought,  and, 
detecting  a  black  Victoria  with  buys,  just  ahead, 


A  SEARCH  IN  THE  PARK  227 

made  shift  to  urge  his  car  in  its  path  till  a  side  street 
below  received  it  from  the  traffic. 

There  he  beheld  it  halt  before  a  door.  Two  ladies 
alighted,  too  far  away  for  their  faces  to  be  seen. 
The  carriage  turned,  and  came  rapidly  back  to  meet 
him,  a  gentleman  remaining  on  its  cushions.  Half 
a  minute  later  it  passed — but  the  man  was  not  Sir 
Hugh. 

Julian  rolled  by  aimlessly,  aware  that  his  chase 
had  failed. 


CHAPTER  XXVII 

A    CUP    OF    TEA 

IT  was  nearly  four  in  the  afternoon  when  at 
length,  by  dint  of  pursuing  that  English  gentle- 
man all  over  the  city  by  'phone,  Julian  finally  cap- 
tured Sir  Hugh  Pearson  and  obtained  the  informa- 
tion by  which  Barbara  might  be  sought. 

Aware  that  the  name  Miss  Lee  would  avail  him 
nothing,  Vail  inquired  for  Lady  Constance  Drew,  to 
whom  he  said  he  owed  a  social  obligation  he  much  de- 
sired to  cancel.  He  had  stupidly  lost  the  house  ad- 
dress, he  alleged,  and  could  think  of  no  means  likelier 
than  this  for  retrieving  his  neglect. 

With  the  utmost  courtesy  possible  the  Baron  sup- 
plied the  intelligence  that  her  "  ladyship  "  was  stop- 
ping with  Lady  Honore  Kent,  whose  home  address, 
just  off  the  Avenue,  Vail  knew  he  should  never 
forget. 

Indeed,  he  took  no  time  to  incur  the  risk.  Not 
without  his  doubts  of  obtaining  admission  to  the 
premises,  he  was  nevertheless  at  the  door  at  five 
o'clock,  where  his  cards  for  Lady  Constance  Drew 
and  her  titled  hostess  were  gravely  received  by  the 
servant  in  attendance. 

Julian  was  ushered  into  a  room  of  rich  appoint- 


A  CUP  OF  TEA 

ments  and  waited  there  alone.  The  madness  of  the 
adventure  began  at  length  to  percolate  into  his  mind. 
Lady  Honore  Kent  must  of  course  be  aware  of  the 
fact  that  Barbara  had  been  forcibly  abducted  from 
his  care,  if  she  was  not  in  fact  the  woman  of  the 
veil.  He  could  make  no  demands  upon  her,  require 
no  explanations,  offer  no  valid  excuses  for  appearing 
here  uninvited. 

He  was  wholly  undecided  as  to  any  plan  of  action, 
but  he  had  not  long  to  wait.  His  hostess  came 
quietly  into  the  room  and  disarmed  him  with  a  smile. 
Medium  tall,  and  decidedly  English,  Lady  Kent  was 
a  person  with  every  indication  of  breeding  and  re- 
finement in  her  mien. 

"  Mr.  Vail  ?  "  she  said,  extending  her  hand  with 
the  utmost  graciousness.  "  I  trust  you  will  pardon 
me  for  coming  down  a  moment  ahead  of  Lady  Con- 
stance. She  has  been  for  a  ride  in  the  Park  with 
her  fiance,  and  has  only  just  dressed  for  tea.  I  hope 
you're  not  so  hopelessly  American  as  to  refuse  a  cup 
of  tea?" 

"  Great  pleasure,  I'm  sure,"  said  Julian,  rather 
lamely.  "  The  Park  is  a  great  temptation  such  a 
glorious  afternoon." 

His  hostess  agreed  that  it  was. 

He  was  certain  Lady  Honore  was  not  aware  he 
had  passed  them  in  the  Park.  Her  mention,  there- 
fore, of  Barbara's  fiance  had  the  doom-like  ring  of 
truth.  Moreover,  in  thus  opposing  no  objection  to 
his  meeting  her  protegee,  Lady  Honore  gave  him  an- 
other surprise  that  left  him  somewhat  confused. 


230          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

His  mind  had  been  prepared  for  another  sort  of 
greeting.  He  floundered  mentally  in  all  directions 
to  resume  his  wonted  poise.  He  wondered  swiftly 
what  Barbara  would  do  to  support  or  confute  her 
hostess.  Even  the  way  she  might  enter  the  room 
would  be  significant. 

"  I — met  Lady  Constance  at  the  ball — the  Comity 
Ball,"  he  explained,  incapable  of  introducing  the 
subject  of  Barbara's  abduction  from  his  car  as  a 
matter  perilous  to  mention  without  doing  possible 
harm.  "  It  must  have  been  some  oversight  that  I 
was  not  presented  to  you." 

Lady  Honore  smiled. 

"  Won't  you  come  to  our  cozier  quarters  ?  Tea 
and  comfort  suggest  one  another,  do  they  not  ?  " 

She  led  the  way  to  the  farther  room,  and  Julian 
followed  meekly,  his  forces  unmarshaled,  his  wits 
awry,  his  purposes  scattered  to  the  winds.  He  felt 
himself  an  intruder  who  was  nevertheless  made  wel- 
come in  the  finest  conception  of  the  term. 

This  apartment,  like  the  drawing-room  proper, 
was  tastefully  and  richly  furnished.  It  appeared 
to  be  a  lounging  and  reading  room,  with  a  tabourette 
for  tea.  A  number  of  novels  and  magazines  were 
lying  carelessly  about. 

Her  ladyship  rang  for  the  tea  at  once  and  began 
to  chat  of  plays.  She  was  doing  her  utmost,  ap- 
parently, to  entertain  her  guest.  Had  she  compre- 
hended the  exceptional  embarrassment  under  which 
the  man  was  laboring,  she  could  scarcely  have  been 
more  soothing  and  assuring  to  Julian's  nerves. 


A  CUP  OF  TEA  231 

The  servant  arrived  with  his  silver  tray — and  then 
came  Barbara. 

She  entered  the  room  in  a  manner  so  composed  that 
Vail  almost  thought  he  was  dreaming.  The  dainty, 
exquisite  gown  she  wore  seemed  the  final  touch  to 
complete  her  as  a  princess.  She  had  never  appeared 
more  beautiful,  and  never  so  quiet  and  contained. 

Julian  rose  to  greet  her.  She  came  across  the 
floor  with  girlish  grace,  and  held  out  her  hand  as 
the  merest  matter  of  form. 

"How  do  you  do,  Mr.  Vail?"  she  said.  "How 
good  of  you  to  come." 

It  was  just  a  bare  touch  of  hands  that  they  ex- 
changed. 

"  I — I  had  hoped  to  call  before,"  Vail  stammered, 
at  a  loss  for  anything  to  say.  Then,  as  Barbara 
sank  upon  a  chair,  he  once  more  resumed  his  seat. 

"  My  dear,  I  shall  perish  of  thirst,"  said  Lady 
Honore,  languidly.  "  Do  pour  us  some  tea  at  once." 
She  turned  as  before  to  Vail. 

"You  were  just  about  to  tell  me  what  you  think 
of  Stover's  play." 

Julian  made  an  effort  and  succeeded  in  finding  him- 
self. 

"  It  seems  to  have  a  rather  good  idea.  He  ought 
to  have  it  dramatized." 

Lady  Honore  laughed  in  honest  delight. 

"  Oh,  I  hope  I  may  steal  that  to  tell  to — someone 
else.  Lady  Constance,  I  shall  repeat  it  to  your 
fiance." 

Instantly  Julian  glanced  at  Barbara's  face.     She 


THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

was  crimson  with  consciousness  of  his  gaze,  and  kept 
her  eyes  upon  the  cups  she  was  daintily  filling  with 
tea. 

She  was  barely  able  to  murmur : 

"  Cream  or  lemon,  Mr.  Vail?  " 

"  Lemon,"  said  Julian,  " — both — I  mean — neither 
— just  sugar,  if  you  please." 

"  What  a  perfectly  lazy  day ! "  continued  Lady 
Honore,  irrelevantly.  "  I'm  sure  I  never  in  all  my 
life  breathed  such  soporific  air." 

Despite  the  fact  he  felt  he  was  observed,  Julian 
glanced  at  her  ladyship  a  second  only,  then  back  at 
Barbara,  who  offered  a  cup  of  amber  brew  without 
once  lifting  her  glance. 

She  made  no  effort  whatsoever  at  joining  in  the 
conversation.  Indeed,  it  became  a  monologue,  Lady 
Honore  talking  with  easy  fluency,  on  one  topic  after 
another. 

Vail  drank  his  tea,  with  no  idea  of  its  flavor.  It 
seemed  a  trifle  oversweet ;  of  this  he  was  dimly  aware. 
Barbara  likewise  sought  refuge  in  her  cup.  The 
constraint  of  the  situation  grew. 

In  a  purely  mechanical  manner  Julian  smiled,  or 
uttered  some  monosyllable,  to  appear  even  barely 
alive.  He  had  never  felt  so  utterly  discomfited,  or 
helpless.  There  was  nothing  of  the  slightest  private 
nature  he  could  say  to  Barbara,  not  an  object  of 
his  visit  to  attain.  And  a  strange  dulling  sense  of 
indifference  was  creeping  on  his  brain. 

"  Oh,  my  dear,"  said  the  hostess  to  Barbara, 
sweetly,  "  we'd  both  quite  forgotten  the  note  you 


A  CUP  OF  TEA  233 

were  to  write,  and  I'm  sure  I  left  the  necklace  on  the 
dresser.  I  wonder  if  you'd  mind  just  running  up 
before  the  servants  find  it  lying  carelessly  about?  " 

"  Not  in  the  least,"  said  Barbara,  putting  down  her 
cup  with  ready  alacrity  and  rising  to  leave  the  room. 
"  Shall  I  bring  it  to  you  here  ?  " 

"  It  might  be  better  in  the  safe,"  her  ladyship  re- 
sponded, and,  turning  to  Vail  as  Barbara  disap- 
peared, she  smilingly  added,  "  One's  jewels  are  so 
often  one's  worries." 

Through  some  weaving  mist  that  he  strove  to  ban- 
ish from  his  brain  Vail  groped  for  a  species  of  test. 

"  Both  worries  and  responsibilities,"  he  agreed. 
"  Think  of  having  in  one's  possession  some  priceless 
gem  like  the  great  Hope  diamond,  or  the  famous 
Gatama  ruby." 

Not  a  sign  did  the  lady's  face  betray. 

"  Dear  me !  Haven't  I  read  something  recently 
about  that  particular  stone  ?  " 

Vail  could  feel  no  sense  of  her  guilt,  yet  he  at- 
tempted another  reply  that  some  way  seemed  to  drain 
his  very  powers  of  concentration. 

"  Quite  likely.  It  was  recently  stolen,  its  owner 
having  been  murdered  for  the  purpose." 

The  shot  glanced  from  her  ladyship  like  water 
from  a  furnace. 

"  What  a  pity !  "  she  said.  "  I  should  never  for- 
give my  carelessness  if  anything  should  have  hap- 
pened to  my  poor  little  handful  of  gems !  Would 
you  pardon  my  absence  for  a  moment?  " 

Her  solicitude  for  the  necklace  had  every  appear- 


THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

ance  of  being  genuine  as  she  rose  and  placed  her  cup 
upon  a  stand. 

Julian  got  upon  his  feet  like  a  man  of  lead,  the 
movement  requiring  deliberate  effort. 

"  By  all  means,"  he  managed  to  say,  and  the  words 
seemed  to  echo  through  his  skull  with  a  hollow,  for- 
eign sound.  And  then,  through  a  dizzying  whirl  of 
things  invisible,  he  beheld  her  disappear. 

For  a  moment  he  swayed  there  drunkenly,  inca- 
pable of  collecting  his  thoughts  sufficiently  to  won- 
der what  it  meant.  Instinct  more  than  ordered 
reason  warned  him  in  some  distant  manner  of  un- 
reality that  something  must  be  wrong. 

He  staggered  across  to  the  window,  moving 
through  a  maelstrom,  as  it  were,  of  rapidly  revolv- 
ing images,  all  of  them  black,  and  without  real  sub- 
stance or  form.  The  window  was  already  open,  but 
the  air  merely  cleared  no  webs  from  his  brain.  As 
if  in  a  mighty  conflict  between  things  rational  and 
utterly  absurd,  he  realized,  vaguely  but  protestingly, 
that  the  tea  he  had  taken  was  drugged. 

Some  mastering  resolution  to  break  the  spell, 
crash  down  the  door,  and  either  escape  to  shout  for 
help  or  punish  the  woman  who  had  done  this  thing, 
swam  giddily  in  and  out  of  his  senses. 

^  He  plunged  like  a  stone  man  towards  the  door, 
knocking  the  chairs  from  his  path.  He  reached  it, 
to  find  it  was  locked.  Obeying  blind-animal  impulse, 
he  lurched  to  the  other — and  there  was  baffled  again. 

He  felt  he  was  dying  for  air.  He  could  barely 
see.  He  had  lost  all  control  of  his  legs,  and,  with 


A  CUP  OF  TEA  235 

bending  knees  and  drooping  spine,  went  reeling  once 
more  towards  the  window.  He  reached  it  in  a  series 
of  plunges  and  caught  at  the  sill  for  support. 

At  a  sound  he  turned.  Inside  the  door  stood  a 
figure  simply  gowned.  He  was  certain  it  was  Bar- 
bara, though  Inferno  danced  blackly  between.  By 
a  mighty  struggle  he  compelled  the  power  of  speech. 

"  Barbara !  Barbara !  "  he  cried,  in  a  thickened  ut- 
terance that  rang  with  confusion  in  his  ears.  "  I'm 
poisoned !  What,  in  God's  name — have  you  done  ?  " 

A  mocking  laugh  was  the  only  reply  vouchsafed 
his  departing  consciousness;  then  he  sank  on  the 
floor  in  a  heap. 


A   DBEAD    AWAKENING 

SIX  hundred  feet  high,  above  the  green  of  little 
Madison  Square,  the  mighty  bell  in  the  Metro- 
politan tower  boomed  out  five  deep,  reverberating 
notes  that  it  seemed  to  Vail  were  sounded  from  the 
hollow  of  his  skull. 

Pains  dull  and  acute,  pains  crawling  and  swift  as 
a  poignard,  assailed  him  from  finger-tips  to  brain. 

He  was  dimly  aware  that  light  stole  grayly  to  his 
eyes  before  he  could  lift  their  lids.  Disjointed  memo- 
ries, fragments  of  dreams,  and  readjusting  mental 
processes  jostled  their  way  to  his  mind. 

When  at  length  he  sat  up,  with  eyes  widely  star- 
ing, he  felt  he  might  collapse.  Nevertheless,  his 
strength  came  home  like  a  rough,  impatient  tenant 
too  eager  for  orderly  ways. 

He  was  sore  of  head ;  he  was  dazed ;  his  limbs  were 
stiff.  Unaware  of  the  time,  despite  the  half -remem- 
bered bell,  he  took  out  his  watch,  to  find  it  was 
stopped,  then  sat  there  to  press  both  his  temples. 
His  hat  lay  near,  on  the  floor. 

Perhaps  because  the  light  increased  he  judged  it 
was  early  morning.  Jarring  reminders  of  what  had 
occurred  assembled  like  bits  of  mosaic  in  his  mind,  to 
arouse  him  to  painful  indignation.  He  rubbed  at  his 

236 


A  DREAD  AWAKENING  237 

eyes  and  looked  about,  confused  by  the  aspect  of  the 
place. 

It  was  not  the  room  in  which,  as  he  remembered, 
he  had  found  himself  drugged  by  the  tea.  The  fact 
was  obvious;  nevertheless,  to  his  groping  wits  noth- 
ing seemed  absolutely  certain.  He  could  not  yet 
have  told  to  save  his  life  that  the  room  was  not  the 
same. 

Weak  and  uncertain,  he  finally  dragged  himself  to 
his  feet  and  attempted  to  puzzle  it  out.  First  the 
size  of  the  apartment,  and  then  the  furnishings,  con- 
vinced him  he  had  been  moved.  This  room  was  small, 
old,  dingy,  supplied  with  rickety  chairs  and  stands 
that  were  dusty  with  neglect.  Its  one  unclean  win- 
dow looked  out  upon  bare  brick  walls. 

His  youth  and  robust  constitution  asserted  them- 
selves by  leaps  and  bounds  to  clarify  his  functions. 
His  clothing  was  dusty  and  disheveled.  He  gave  it 
the  merest  glance  and  moved  across  to  the  door  that 
led  from  the  room. 

The  door,  as  at  the  other  house,  was  locked.  He 
began  to  realize  that,  having  first  been  rendered  help- 
less through  some  powerful  narcotic  in  the  tea  that 
Barbara  had  poured,  he  had  later  been  hustled  from 
the  premises,  thrown  in  thio  wretched  hovel,  and  se- 
cured there  like  a  beast  in  a  kennel. 

His  indignation  grew  to  wrath  of  an  all-embracing 
scope.  The  door  that  opposed  him  filled  his  being 
with  resentment.  He  charged  it  like  a  strong  young 
bull,  heaving  the  weight  of  his  solid  shoulder  against 
the  panels  till  it  creaked. 


238          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

At  the  second  attack  the  wood  gave  way,  break- 
ing from  the  lock.  An  echo  rolled  through  the  dusty 
hall  that  he  found  himself  confronting,  then  still- 
ness settled  as  before. 

Indeed,  the  quiet  and  the  filtered  light,  that  stole 
through  curtained  windows,  began  to  impress  him 
with  a  sense  that  the  place  was  quite  deserted.  Two 
flights  of  stairs — one  leading  upward  to  a  floor  above, 
the  other  leading  downward  to  a  darkened  hall  be- 
low— convinced  him  he  was  stationed  at  the  second 
story  of  the  house. 

He  paused  to  listen,  by  way  of  precaution,  for  any 
sounds  of  life  that  might  have  resulted  from  the 
crashing  disturbance  of  the  door.  There  were  none. 
Quietly  proceeding  along  the  hall,  to  a  door  that 
stood  slightly  ajar,  he  halted,  caught  no  sound  from 
within  and  gently  pushed  it  open. 

The  room  was  empty,  save  for  a  few  odd  bits  of 
furniture,  and  a  rolled-up  carpet  on  the  floor.  It 
was  feebly  lighted  through  slits  in  the  blinds  that 
masked  its  street-fronting  windows. 

Deciding  he  was  quite  alone  in  the  building,  and 
beginning  to  wonder  where  it  was  and  why  he  had 
thus  been  "  dumped  "  like  old  rubbish  in  the  place, 
he  returned  to  the  head  of  the  stairs,  but  paused  be- 
fore descending. 

His  anger  continued  to  grow.  It  crowded  out  all 
immediate  possibility  of  reflection  on  the  case.  Bar- 
bara, Lady  Honore,  and  all  the  tangle  gone  before 
were  mixed  in  a  heterogeneous  confusion  in  his  mind. 

What  he  should  do  hereafter  was  left  for  calmer 


239 

speculation.  The  first  things  to  know  were — where 
he  was,  what  day  had  dawned,  and  what  hour  was 
passing  in  the  world.  The  first  thing  to  do  was  to 
leave  this  house  and  set  about  achieving  the  punish- 
ment of  those  behind  the  game. 

The  hallway  below  was  dim  with  gloom,  where 
everything  was  closed.  Suspicious  of  yet  more  lurk- 
ing treacheries,  Julian  noiselessly  descended,  his  hand 
on  the  dusty  banister  of  the  stairs,  his  senses  attuned 
for  the  slightest  sound  or  movement.  He  fancied  he 
smelled  the  stuffy  odor  of  kerosene  and  beheld  some 
object  down  at  the  foot  of  the  steps. 

He  presently  halted,  staring  at  the  still  thing  be- 
low on  the  floor.  He  was  certain  the  form  was  that 
of  a  man,  perhaps  asleep  in  the  path  he  must  take 
before  he  could  reach  the  door. 

Determined  to  slay  the  fellow,  if  need  be  with  his 
naked  hands,  should  resistance  to  his  departure  be 
attempted,  Vail  continued  downward  silently,  till  the 
stairs  abruptly  groaned. 

The  sound  was  fearfully  magnified  by  the  empti- 
ness of  the  hall.  It  seemed  to  Julian  sufficiently  loud 
to  arouse  all  the  sleepers  in  the  block.  But  the  form 
below  made  not  a  sign,  and  he  presently  crept  to- 
wards it  as  before. 

Again  the  ancient  stairway  snapped  with  his 
weight  upon  its  planks.  Again  he  stopped,  now 
ready  to  dash  upon  this  sleeping  guardian  and  hurl 
him  from  his  path — but  nothing  happened. 

More  boldly  he  took  the  few  remaining  steps,  in- 
tently regarding  the  human  form,  no  longer  half- 


240          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

imagined,  who  lay  between  him  and  the  door.  There 
was  not  the  slightest  movement  in  the  figure  on  the 
floor.  The  sleeper's  face  was  turned  the  other  way. 

Still  possessed  by  the  thought  that  here  was  some 
ruffian  left  in  charge  of  himself,  Julian  stepped  cau- 
tiously around  the  silent  form  and  made  his  way  to 
the  door.  Even  in  passing  he  could  not  see  the 
shadow-hidden  face  on  the  carpet. 

To  his  thorough  surprise  the  vestibule  door  was 
unfastened.  It  yielded  readily  when  he  turned  the 
knob,  and  a  band  of  filmy  daylight  streamed  in  at 
once  from  the  glass-surrounded  barrier  beyond. 

Vail  was  still  watching  the  silent  form.  A  cer- 
tain dread  engulfed  him  with  that  entrance  of  the 
light. 

The  man  on  the  floor  was  dead. 

The  pallor,  the  pose,  and  the  aspect  were  not  to 
be  mistaken.  Vail  leaned  back  against  the  frame  of 
the  door,  in  awe.  He  could  see  one  marbleized  hand 
lying  palm  upward,  stiff  and  cold. 

And  it  had  no  thumb ! 

This  fact  went  home  to  Julian  strangely,  as  a 
realizing  sense  that  the  man  before  him  was  the 
fellow  of  Hackett  Tides  took  concrete  form  in  his 
mind. 

Despite  the  fact  he  had  failed  to  see  the  face  of 
the  spokesman  at  the  island  inquisition,  there  was  not 
the  slightest  room  for  doubt  that  this  was  the  very 
man. 

But,  aside  from  the  train  of  baffled  speculation 
that  this  discovery  inaugurated,  loomed  the  far  more 


A  DREAD  AWAKENING  241 

alarming  aspect  of  the  situation  in  which  he  found 
himself. 

If  he  fled  the  premises  forthwith,  and  were  seen, 
a  dusty,  disheveled  figure,  escaping  from  an  empty 
house  where  a  murdered  man  was  lying,  what  expla- 
nation could  he  offer?  Yet  he  could  not  remain. 
Not  only  was  the  thought  intolerable,  but  should 
anyone  come  and  find  him  here,  alone  with  that  figure 
on  the  floor,  his  plight  would  be  even  worse. 

He  partially  closed  the  door  again  and  stood  there 
fixedly  staring.  Perhaps  the  man  was  not  murdered, 
after  all.  He  tiptoed  back  for  a  closer  examination 
— and  again  felt  a  shock  at  his  vitals. 

The  man  had  been  strangled.  The  only  bruise 
upon  him  was  a  small,  X-shaped  wound  on  his  fore- 
head. His  bull's-eye  lantern  lay  near  at  hand,  its  oil 
spilled  out  on  the  floor.  It  was  just  such  a  murder 
as  that  of  the  Maharajah,  from  whom  the  ruby  had 
been  stolen. 

Cold  sweat  had  oozed  from  Julian's  brow,  as  he 
once  more  retreated,  chilled  by  indecision  and  the 
fear  to  go  or  stay.  For  a  moment  he  wondered 
if  the  whole  affair  had  not  been  planned  to  throw 
suspicion  on  himself.  Then  another  suggestion  came 
to  his  mind,  the  merest  vague  theory  that  he  had 
been  intended  for  a  victim — that,  having  been  ren- 
dered unconscious  and  helpless,  he  was  simply  de- 
livered here  at  this  empty  dwelling  for  this  dead  man 
to  prison  again. 

The  set  of  scoundrels  who  had  tortured  him  down 
at  the  island  had  failed  of  their  object,  after  all. 


242          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

Since  this  was  the  spokesman  of  the  outfit,  overtaken 
by  violent  fate,  it  was  not  at  all  improbable  he  had 
come  here  through  some  deliberate  plan  to  recoup 
their  previous  failure,  through  a  drugged  man, 
locked  in  the  house. 

And  once  again  the  trick  had  been  turned  through 
Barbara's  assistance.  There  was  no  denying  the 
plain,  accusing  fact  that  she  had  given  him  the  tea. 
At  a  dim  recollection  of  her  coming  later  to  the 
room,  to  laugh  in  derision  at  his  plight,  Vail  could 
have  groaned  for  the  anguish  that  gripped  to  the 
core  of  his  heart. 

But  the  time  was  ill  suited  for  dwelling  long  on 
thoughts  of  what  had  been.  He  was  far  too  con- 
fused and  far  too  concerned  with  this  latest  develop- 
ment to  speculate  on  mysteries  too  deep  for  his  clari- 
fying powers.  He  would  simply  have  to  make  his 
escape,  and  possibly  warn  the  police. 

Once  more  he  crept  to  the  entrance,  feeling  guilty 
of  deserting  the  dead.  His  heart  was  pounding 
wildly,  in  alarm  lest  he  might  be  seen.  Hardly  less 
furtively  than  a  thief,  he  closed  himself  into  the 
vestibule,  and  opened  the  outside  door,  perhaps  an 
inch. 

With  a  clatter  of  its  horses'  hoofs  on  the  pave- 
ment a  milk  wagon  rattled  up  the  street.  Vail  closed 
the  door  instantly  and  suppressed  the  sound  of  his 
breathing.  It  seemed  a  time  interminable  before  the 
wagon  was  gone. 

He  tried  again. 

This  time  the  shock  that  came  was  greater.     A 


A  DREAD  AWAKENING  243 

lone  policeman,  on  the  opposite  walk,  was  strolling 
leisurely  by,  apparently  watching  the  place.  To  call 
him  seemed  a  madness  he  must  certainly  avoid.  Vail 
shrank  behind  the  door. 

He  made  an  attempt  to  dust  off  his  clothing,  but 
the  noise  seemed  frightfully  loud.  At  length  he 
dared  to  peer  from  the  crack  again.  The  officer  was 
gone,  but  the  purr  of  an  early  automobile  came  dis- 
tinctly up  the  street. 

A  moment  later  it  halted,  just  below.  Instinct- 
ively Vail  felt  this  house  was  the  object  of  those 
who  had  just  arrived.  His  fear  was  confirmed  when 
someone  came  briskly  across  the  walk  and  was  heard 
to  stop  at  the  steps.  He  closed  the  door  without 
a  sound,  retreated  once  more  inside  the  hall,  and 
halted  helplessly. 

Someone  was  fumbling  at  the  outside  barrier,  and 
spoke  in  a  muffled  voice.  Unable  to  endure  his  posi- 
tion longer,  Julian  fled  to  the  back  of  the  stairs, 
where  a  closet  led  down  to  the  cellar.  Immediately 
taking  advantage  of  the  blackness  of  this  retreat, 
and  leaving  its  door  ajar,  he  heard  two  men  enter 
at  the  threshold  and  utter  a  note  of  dread. 

The  daylight  had  streamed  in  behind  them,  casting 
their  shadows  up  the  hall.  Then  one  of  them  spoke, 
and  Julian's  heart  stood  still. 


CHAPTER  XXIX 

THE   SIGN    OF    BUDDHA 

IT  was  Garrison's  voice  that  echoed  in  the  place. 
"  Good  Heavens !  "  he  said.  "  Nick  Lawbit ! — 
He  must  have  been  dead  for  hours !  Choked  like  the 
Maharajah!  .  .  .  Ah!" — he  had  found  the  mark 
like  a  bruise  upon  the  forehead — "  that  X  again  be- 
tween the  eyes !  .  .  .  Listen  !  What  was  that  ?  " 

The  door  that  Julian  held  had  slightly  moved  and 
creaked. 

He  heard  a  click  where  Garrison  cocked  his  gun. 

"  Come  out !  "  said  the  criminologist.  "  Come 
out,  there,  friend,  hands  up ! " 

Vail  had  suppressed  an  impulse  to  make  his  ap- 
pearance at  once.  Not  without  a  sense  of  relief  and 
almost  with  a  sense  of  humor  in  the  situation, 
he  stepped  from  the  darkness  to  the  light. 

"  For  the  love  of "  started  Garrison.    "  Vail ! 

Good  Lord,  man,  what  are  you  doing  here?  " 

Julian  came  toward  him,  shrugging  his  shoulders. 

"  I  don't  know,  Garrison,"  he  said.  "  I  woke  up 
here,  not  fifteen  minutes  ago.  I  was  locked  in  a 
room  upstairs." 

The  man  with  the  criminologist,  John  Nettleton  by 
name — a  faithful  being,  frequently  of  great  assist- 

244 


THE  SIGN  OF  BUDDHA  245 

ance  to  his  chief — had  supplied  the  tip  that  landed 
Garrison  here,  at  this  scene  of  crime.  His  aston- 
ishment at  Vail's  appearance  made  him  temporarily 
dumb.  He  held  a  useless  weapon  in  his  hand  and 
stared  with  his  mouth  wide  open. 

"  Here,  Nettleton,  shut  that  outside  door ! "  com- 
manded Garrison,  sharply.  "  Upon  my  word,  Mr. 

Vail,  I  don't  understand Have  you  spent  all 

night  in  this  house?" 

Again  Vail  replied,  "  I  don't  know."  He  added 
in  a  lowered  tone  of  voice,  that  Nettleton  need  not 
hear :  "  I  can  tell  you  about  it  later.  I  was  drugged 
and  brought  here  unconscious.  I  broke  from  a  room 
on  the  upper  floor  and  soon  discovered  this.  Is  the 
dead  man  anyone  you  know?" 

"  Know  him  ?  "  answered  Garrison,  whose  mind  was 
cleaving  into  all  the  business  like  an  engine-driven 

saw.  "  He's  a  well-known  crook,  but Look 

here,  Mr.  Vail,  think  sharp — have  you  ever  seen  the 
man  before?  Do  you  possibly  recognize  the  fellow 
as  one  of  the  men  you  met  at  Hackett  Tides  ?  " 

"  I  do,"  said  Vail,  "  by  his  thumb.  He's  the  one 
who  did  the  talking  and  appeared  to  be  the  boss." 

"  So ! "  said  the  criminologist,  slapping  his  thigh, 
then  rapping  himself  on  the  forehead.  "  I'll  get  it ! 
— I'll  get  it  yet.  He  must  have  known  you  were 
here.  He  came  to  get  you  and  put  on  the  screws — 

make  good  the  former  failure — get  the  stone 

But  what's  behind  it  all  ?  "  He  paced  up  and  down 
the  resounding  hall,  so  acutely  engrossed  with  de- 
ductions that  more  pressing  duties  were  neglected. 


246          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

"  Here,"  he  added,  abruptly  to  his  man,  "  Nettleton, 
see  what  he's  got  in  his  pockets ! " 

He  resumed  his  walk  and  struck  himself  harder  on 
the  head. 

"What's  the  use,  Mr.  Vail?"  he  presently  de- 
manded. "  You  only  give  me  half  a  chance.  But 
never  mind — that  comes  later ! "  He  halted  at  Net- 
tleton's  side.  "  Let  me  look  at  that  again ! "  His 
sharp,  clear  gaze  was  fixed  for  a  time  on  the  X 
in  the  colorless  flesh. 

He  touched  it  with  his  thumb.  "  Cut,  no  doubt 
about  it !  "  He  shot  up  suddenly  and  struck  his  fist 
in  his  palm. 

"  I've  got  it — clear  as  day !  The  sign  of  the  sit- 
ting Buddha ! " 

Vail  was  more  puzzled  than  before.  He  was  not 
at  all  certain  that  Garrison  was  sane. 

"  If  you've  got  it,"  he  said,  "  for  God's  sake  tell 
me,  Garrison,  that  it's  something  that  clears  me  of 
suspicion." 

Garrison  stared. 

"Clears  you  of  what  suspicion?  You  don't  be- 
lieve I'm  such  an  ass  as  to  lay  this  murder  at  your 
door?  " 

Julian  all  but  summoned  a  smile. 

"  But  I  see  how  it  might  appear  to  anyone  find- 
ing me  here,  alone  with  the  corpse." 

"  What's  that  ?  "  said  Garrison,  dismissing  this 
phase  of  the  business  instantly  and  turning  once  more 
to  his  man,  " — that  card  there.  Never  mind  the 
jimmy  or  the  gun." 


THE  SIGN  OF  BUDDHA  24,7 

From  a  miscellaneous  heap  of  junk  extracted  from 
the  pockets  of  the  man  on  the  floor  the  card  was 
promptly  extracted,  and  Garrison  held  it  to  the  light. 
Upon  it  was  printed: 

**  MADAMS  STAELIGHT " 


with  an  address  fairly  in  the  borders  of  the  tender- 
loin district  of  the  town.  Scrawled  above  the  name, 
in  pencil,  was  the  number  of  this  particular  house 
and  the  street  wherein  it  stood. 

Garrison  deliberately  slipped  it  in  his  pocket.  One 
hurried  glance  was  all  he  deemed  the  other  discov- 
eries worth. 

"  Put  it  all  back  where  you  found  it,"  he  in- 
structed, briefly.  "  It's  time  to  call  the  police.  Mr. 
Vail,  Nettleton,  this  case  is  mine,  and  this  card  you 
will  kindly  forget."  He  turned  about  to  Julian,  add- 
ing, ."  You  might  take  my  car  and  go  home." 

Julian  pulled  out  his  watch  and  wound  at  the  stem. 
He  inquired,  "  What  is  the  time  ?  " 

"  Five-forty-three  A.M." 

"What  day?" 

"  Sunday.  I'll  call  at  your  apartments,  perhaps 
by  twelve  o'clock." 

"  What  will  you  do — what  will  you  say  to  the 
officers  about  finding  me  here  in  the  house?" 

"  Nothing — at  least  till  the  case  becomes  fool- 
proof. Get  out  a  little  carefully,  that's  all.  I'll 
send. for  the  car  later  on." 

Unspeakably  relieved  to  think  of  escaping  from 


248          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

the  place,  Vail  peered  from  the  door,  as  he  had  be- 
fore, and  found  the  street  deserted.  He  was  pres- 
ently guiding  the  borrowed  car  across  to  deserted 
Fifth  Avenue,  and  finally,  with  the  dust  of  his  night 
quarters  still  upon  him,  was  once  more  alone  in  his 
apartments. 

Despite  his  sensations  of  weariness  and  pain,  oc- 
casioned by  the  drugging  and  his  subsequent  treat- 
ment, Vail  was  remarkably  refreshed  and  restored  by 
his  bath  and  the  process  of  dressing  for  breakfast. 
His  recovery  was  completed  by  the  hearty  meal  he 
devoured  at  seven  o'clock.  Then  he  wondered  what 
he  should  do. 

He  had  carefully  scrutinized  every  phase  and  as- 
pect of  the  business  at  Lady  Kent's — and  was  wholly 
at  sea.  It  appeared  absurd  that  Barbara  Lee  should 
be  once  more  acquitted  of  deliberate  participation  in 
all  the  outrageous  occurrences  of  which  he  had  been 
the  victim,  yet  so  tenacious  is  love  and  so  stubborn 
the  bias  of  the  human  mind  that  he  could  not  convict 
her,  even  now. 

Admitting  there  seemed  no  ground  on  which  to 
excuse  this  latest  treachery,  he  nevertheless  retained 
some  poor,  illogical  little  hope  that,  somehow,  some- 
thing might  transpire  to  restore  the  confidence  she 
had  always  reinspired.  To  believe  she  had  willfully 
contributed  to  all  that  had  happened  since  he  took 
the  cup  of  tea  was  to  charge  her  with  infamies  too 
black  for  a  girlish  heart  to  harbor  for  an  hour. 

A  hundred  mad  hypotheses  were  formed,  in  his 
despair  of  explaining  things  away.  Yet,  with  all  his 


THE  SIGN  OF  BUDDHA  249 

eagerness  to  find  her  guiltless,  he  constantly  returned 
to  a  contemplation  of  things  that  the  night  had  de- 
veloped, and  what  might  have  been,  that  some  deadly 
hand  had  averted. 

He  felt  the  thing  would  presently  sap  his  mind, 
were  nothing  done  to  rid  him  of  its  bane.  Like  the 
man  who  has  failed  in  the  Wall  Street  game  and 
agrees  to  quit  if  only  his  losses  can  be  recouped,  he 
told  himself  he  would  gladly  surrender  Barbara  if 
only  he  could  once  get  at  the  reasons  of  her  actions 
and  know  she  loved  him  not  at  all.  But  that  was  the 
rub. — He  had  felt  her  response  to  his  own  vast  love — 
and  his  heart  had  become  her  slave. 

There  was  no  decision  he  could  reach,  no  satisfied 
state  he  could  attain.  He  paced  the  floor  feverishly, 
already  wondering  where  she  was,  and  how  two 
women  could  have  dared  the  thing  that  was  done  at 
Lady  Kent's.  He  was  sure  some  man  was  behind  it 
all,  as  he  always  had  been  before. 

The  red-headed  man  was  hauntingly  present  in  his 
mind.  The  whole  thing  wore  on  his  nerves.  What 
should  he  look  for  next? — and  how  employ  the  day? 
Should  he  seek  Sir  Hugh  Pearson,  either  to  warn 
him  or  be  warned?  Should  he  go  again  to  the  house 
the  women  occupied  and  probe  in  the  matter  for  him- 
self? He  felt  sure  they  would  not  be  there. 

Eight  o'clock  came  and  nine,  and  still  he  paced. 
He  was  unaware  of  the  flight  of  time,  as  he  lived 
again,  persistently,  even  happily,  that  day  at  the 
island  with  the  boat  that  he  and  Barbara  repaired, 
working  side  by  side  in  their  Eden. 


250          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

Subconsciously  he  waited  with  one  ear  bent  to  the 
telephone.  Some  lover's  hope  that  Barbara  would 
call  him  up  and  explain,  or  at  least  desire  him  to 
come  to  her  side,  would  not  be  banished  from  his 
breast. 

But  ten  o'clock  winged  silently  by  with  no  results. 
It  was  nearly  eleven,  with  Julian  rapidly  fincmig  the 
walls  of  his  quarters  intolerable,  whei:  the  instrument 
actually  rang. 


CHAPTER  XXX 

TWO    SIGNIFICANT   INTERVIEWS 

IT  was  Iris  Puryn  on  the  wire. 
In  her  calm,  even  tones  she  bade  him  a  formal 
good-morning  and  then  conveyed,  in  a  message  that 
was  half-request  and  half -command,  her  desire  to  see 
him  forthwith. 

There  was  no  attempt  to  discuss  their  affairs 
across  the  instrument.  Vail  replied  that  he  was  mo- 
mentarily expecting  a  man  to  keep  an  appointment. 
Iris  was  impatient.  He  looked  at  his  watch,  for  the 
fiftieth  time  that  morning.  He  had  more  than  an 
hour  till  noon. 

"  All  right,"  he  agreed.     "  I'll  start  at  once." 

He  was  leaving  the  room  when  the  telephone  bell 
called  again,  with  Garrison's  hasty  summons. 

"  Can't  get  there,  after  all,"  he  said.  "  Off  out 
of  town  for  a  certain  light  from  the  stars.  May 
not  be  back  till  to-morrow.  Expect  to  have  some- 
thing to  report.  Good-by !  " 

"  Wait !  Wait !  "  cried  Julian,  but  the  instrument 
gave  him  no  response. 

Twenty  minutes  later  he  once  more  entered  the 
sumptuous  apartment  in  which  he  and  Iris  had  ex- 
changed information  concerning  Miss  Barbara  Lee. 

251 


252          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

The  air  of  disdain  Miss  Puryn  assumed  began  to 
be  an  irritation  before  they  had  taken  their  seats. 
She  was  beautiful  this  morning,  in  her  cold  and  placid 
manner,  but  displeasure  marred  her  expression.  She 
began  with  commendable  promptness  to  introduce  the 
all-important  subject. 

"  I  presume  you  received  my  last  letter?  " 

Julian  nodded. 

"  If  you  mean  your  ultimatum,  I  think  I  may  say 
I  did." 

Her  glance  was  one  of  challenge. 

"  You  have  made  no  reply." 

"What  did  you  expect?"  he  answered.  "You 
demanded  explanations,  no  more  pertinent  than  many 
with  which  I  might  retaliate  if  such  a  procedure  were 
either  wise  or  kind." 

She  flushed  slightly. 

"  Do  you  think  that  a  fair  evasion  ?  If  you  re- 
fuse to  answer  my  questions,  we  may  as  well  know 
it  at  once." 

Julian  looked  at  her  steadily. 

"  I  have  nothing  to  evade.  I  have  done  nothing 
I  wish  tto  dodge.  If  your  letter  remains  unan- 
swered, it  is  because  I've  had  nothing  to  say." 

"  No  reply  to  all  that  story  in  the  Star?  " 

"  Do  you  place  such  unlimited  credence  in  a  New: 
York  yellow  journal?  " 

"  I  do  not,"  she  answered,  incisively,  a  new  light 
of  triumph  in  her  eyes.  "  I  happen  to  know  that  you 
were  out  of  town  for  more  than  twenty-four  hours, 
on  a  mission  I  have  a  right  to  doubt.  The  Star's 


TWO  SIGNIFICANT  INTERVIEWS     253 

account  confirmed  the  -facts  that  were  not  mere  yel- 
low journalism,  or  I  should  not  have  written  as  I 
did." 

Julian  nodded  as  before. 

"  I'm  aware  your  hired  detective  was  busy  keep- 
ing track  of  my  movements." 

She  was  not  in  the  least  perturbed. 

"  And  what  have  your  movements  been  ?  Is  it 
going  too  far  to  call  them  attentions  to  a  certain 
doubtful  young  person  ?  " 

"  Is  that  what  you  got  me  here  to  say  ?  " 

"  Not  precisely,  but  your  attitude  provokes  it." 

"  I  told  you  frankly,  at  the  first,  I  had  no  inten- 
tion of  sending  a  friendless  young  girl  adrift  in  New 
York,  after  what  had  occurred  at  my  office.  Had 
you  stayed — had  you  offered  a  little  assistance — the 
merest  human " 

Iris  interrupted. 

"  If  you  please,  I  consider  that  part  of  the  topic 
closed.  We  are  interested  now  in  what  has  happened 
since.  Are  you  willing  to  recount  all  that  with  equal 
frankness  ?  " 

"  If  you  mean  am  I  willing  to  be  forced  into  ex- 
planations and  the  like,  I  fear  I  must  answer  I  am 
not." 

"  You  refuse  to  confess  what  has  happened  re- 
cently with  regard  to  this  young  person  ?  " 

"  I  believe  my  attitude  amounts  to  that,  since  you 
insist  upon  putting  some  ugly  construction  on  a 
strictly  private  affair." 

Her  eyes  were  glittering  coldly. 


254          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

"  You  say  that  deliberately,  aware  as  you  must 
be  that  all  I  said  in  my  letter  I  most  certainly 
meant?  " 

"You  have  left  me  very  little  choice." 

She  bit  her  lip  with  annoyance.  The  engagement 
was  already  broken  so  far  as  she  was  concerned,  and 
already  her  new  alliance,  with  Gardner,  was  complete. 
Yet  it  piqued  her  now,  to  find  that  Vail  accepted  with 
calm  a  decision  she  intended  to  be  crushing. 

"  It  is  not  what  I  have  offered,"  she  said.  "  You 
have  chosen  for  yourself. — It  is  useless,  I  imagine, 
to  warn  you  how  greatly  you  have  been  deceived." 

That  shot,  at  least,  went  home. 

"  In  whom  ? — all  womankind  ?  " 

It  was  a  counter,  and  had  its  effect.  Quite  well 
aware  that  in  secretly  engaging  herself  to  Gardner 
she  had  practiced  the  meanest  of  deceptions,  she  re- 
sorted to  a  feminine  defense. 

"  It  was  singular  Miss  Lee  should  have  taken  the 
pains  to  insist  upon  her  friendless  position,  here  in 
New  York,  then  be  seen  with  gentlemen,  driving  in 
the  Park." 

"  Yes,"  retorted  Julian,  quietly,  "  Sir  Hugh  is 
very  much  of  a  gentleman.  I  knew  you  saw  them 
there  while  driving  about  with  Gardner." 

Iris  flushed  to  her  ears. 

"  That  is  absolutely  false ! " 

Julian  shrugged  his  shoulders.  He  wondered  how 
far  she  would  go  in  support  of  her  statement. 

"  You  deny  that  you  were  driving  in  the  Park  with 
Gardner,  yesterday  afternoon  ?  " 


TWO  SIGNIFICANT  INTERVIEWS    255 

She  put  on  her  haughtiest  air. 

"I  have  no  intention  of  submitting  to  a  cate- 
chism." 

"  Quite  right,"  said  Vail,  judicially.  "  It  is  not 
at  all  a  dignified  procedure  for  either  party  to  a 
case  like  ours  to  be  so  humiliated." 

She  felt  herself  suddenly  disarmed.  Her  only  re- 
course was  her  letter. 

"  Then  you  understand,  with  nothing  further  said, 
that  our  former  relationship  is  canceled?" 

"  Perfectly.     I  trust  we  may  still  be  friends." 

She  was  beaten  at  every  point.  She  could  scarcely 
have  told  whether  she  was  now  the  rejector  or  re- 
jected. He  held  out  his  hand,  and,  though  she  felt 
that  even  in  this  he  was  the  victor,  she  could  do  no 
less  than  give  him  her  own  and  so  seal  the  parting 
of  their  ways. 

If  for  just  the  flash  of  a  moment  she  felt  some  re- 
gret— some  sense  of  a  possible  error  of  judgment — 
she  instantly  snatched  at  the  satisfying  assurance 
that  Gardner  would  presently  belittle  this  man  with 
such  a  defeat  of  his  railroad  projects  as  to  leave  him 
practically  ruined. 

"  I'm  sorry  not  to  ask  you  to  dinner,"  she  said, 
with  a  smile.  "  But  your  movements  have  been  so 
uncertain." 

"  So  have  my  dinners,"  he  answered,  cheerfully. 
«— Good-by." 

He  quitted  the  house  with  a  sense  of  relief  that 
was  fairly  soothing  to  his  nerves.  With  a  feeling  of 
being  strangely  aimless  and  bereft  of  a  definite  ob- 


256          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

ject  for  the  day,  he  was  driven  once  more  to  his 
bachelor  apartments,  where  a  visitor,  sitting  in  the 
onyx  corridor,  was  awaiting  his  return. 

It  was  Sir  Hugh  Pearson,  of  the  secret  service  of 
Great  Britain.  He  arose  with  alacrity  at  Julian's 
entrance,  obviously  glad  of  the  meeting. 

"  Ah !  "  he  exclaimed.  "  Mr.  Vail,  I'm  enormously 
relieved  to  see  you.  May  I  ask  for  a  moment  of  pri- 
vate conversation?  " 

"  An-  hour !  "  said  Julian,  with  both  welcome  and 
ifear  of  what  might  be  coming.  "  The  afternoon,  if 
you  like.  Come  up  to  my  section  of  the  shack." 

They  ascended  at  once  to  his  floor. 

He  offered  cigars  and  the  easiest  chair  that  his 
sumptuous  quarters  afforded,  when  he  and  his  guest 
were  alone,  but  the  Baronet  waved  both  away. 

"  The  hardest  seat  and  no  weed,  when  one's  time 
is  limited,"  he  said,  with  a  glance  at  his  watch.  "  If 
you'll  pardon  my  coming  abruptly  to  the  point,  Mr. 
Vail,  I'd  like  to  inquire  if  you  happen  to  know  where 
our  mutual  friends  have  retreated?  " 

Vail  was  receiving  news. 

"  Lady  Kent  and  Lady  Constance  Drew?  Do  you 
mean  they  have  gone  from  their  home  since  yester- 
day afternoon  ?  " 

"  Apparently.  I  could  get  no  reply  on  the  tele- 
phone and  my  man  could  deliver  nothing — get  no 
response — at  the  door." 

Having  wondered  if  something  of  this  nature 
might  not  develop,  Vail  was  not  surprised. 

"  They  may  have  gone  to   the  country  for  the 


TWO  SIGNIFICANT  INTERVIEWS     257 

day,"  he  suggested.  "  The  servants  might  have  taken 
advantage  of  their  absence  to  lock  up  until  they 
return." 

"  You  were  there,  I  take  it,  yesterday  afternoon?  " 

"  Long  enough  to  drink  a  cup  of  tea." 

"  They  said  nothing  then  of  a  change  of  plans 
that  would  take  them  out  of  town?  " 

"  Not  a  word." 

Sir  Hugh  was  silent,  musing  on  the  matter  for  a 
moment. 

"  Rather  singular,  after  specially  inviting " 

He  stroked  his  blond  mustache  unconsciously.  "  Mr. 
Vail,"  he  added,  irrelevantly,  "  we've  known  one  an- 
other rather  well,  take  it  here  and  over  in  London." 

"  Thank  you,  Sir  Hugh,"  said  Vail,  "  I  hope  so. 
Otherwise  I  shouldn't  have  asked  that  favor  yester- 
day. If  there's  anything  I  can  do  to  reciprocate, 
pray  afford  me  the  earliest  possible  opportunity." 

"  Thanks,  old  chap,  I  will — I  may  be  quite  frank, 
I  trust." 

"  I  shall  be  flattered  if  you  will." 

"  May  I  venture  to  ask  your  opinion  of  Lady 
Kent?" 

Julian  met  his  gaze  with  a  level  glance. 

"  I  wish  I  had  one  worthy  of  consideration.  I 
have  met  her  but  once.  Her  manners  were  perfectly 
gracious — which  is  just  about  all  I  know." 

"  Perhaps  you  are  better  acquainted  with  Lady 
Constance?  " 

The  slightest  tinge  of  color  played  on  Julian's 
face. 


258          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

"  I  find  her  no  less  puzzling  than  others  of  her 
sex." 

"But  you  do  find  her  puzzling?" 

"  Why,  yes — I  confess  I  do." 

"  In  what  respect?  " 

Vail  leaped  at  the  opening  afforded  to  test  a  mat- 
ter for  himself.  He  appeared  to  think,  but  the  pause 
was  deliberately  planned. 

"  Perhaps  most  of  all  in  respect  of  her  engage- 
ment to  be  married.  I  learned  of  it  first  from  Lady 
Kent." 

Sir  Hugh  was  subtly  alert. 

"  Oh !  Lady  Kent  has  announced — some  engage- 
ment?" , 

"  Well,  not  exactly.  She  merely  made  the  state- 
ment that  Lady  Constance  had  been  riding  all  after- 
noon with  her  fiance." 

Sir  Hugh  pulled  hard  at  his  mustache. 

"  That  was  false !  "  he  declared.  "  I  mean  to  say 
it  couldn't  possibly  be  true." 

A  wild,  unreasoning  joy  leaped  to  Julian's  heart, 
despite  all  the  things  gone  before.  He  retained  a 
mask  of  calm. 

"  It  might  have  been  some  mistake." 

"  It  'was  a  mistake — but  I'm  glad  to  know  that  it 
was  told  you,  nevertheless."  Sir  Hugh  grew  calmer 
again.  "  May  I  ask  you,  Mr.  Vail,  if  any  Hindoos 
were  there — at  Lady  Kent's — while  you  were  pres- 
ent?" 

"  There  was  no  one  there  save  myself — so  far  as 
I  know." 


TWO  SIGNIFICANT  INTERVIEWS    259 

"  Was  there  any  talk  of  India  ?  " 

"Not  a  word." 

After  a  moment  of  silence,  in  which,  as  before, 
Sir  Hugh  pulled  his  long  mustache,  he  turned  to  Vail 
with  a  smile. 

"  This  is  most  unreasonable  of  me,  this  inquisi- 
tion, old  chap,  but  I've  reasons,  as  you  may  suppose. 
May  I  ask  if  in  any  manner  whatsoever  I  was  a  mo- 
mentary subject  of  conversation  over  the  tea?  " 

"  Your  name  was  never  mentioned,"  answered 
Julian,  with  perfect  truth.  "  The  talk  was  almost 
wholly  of  plays." 

Sir  Hugh  arose  to  go,  but  hesitated,  as  if  with 
indecision.  He  looked  at  his  host  peculiarly. 

"  Beautiful  girl,  I  declare — Lady  Constance." 

"  Very,"  said  Vail.  "  And  charming — at  least  to 
all  appearances." 

His  visitor  was  obviously  nervous,  and  jerked  at 
the  hair  on  his  lip. 

"  You'll  not  misunderstand  or  resent  a  friendly 
attitude,  old  chap  ?  " 

"  Not  in  the  least,"  said  Vail.  "  Just  the  other 
way  about."  He  waited  for  a  moment  and  added, 
"It's  something  you  hesitate  to  say?" 

"  Nothing  much,"  said  Sir  Hugh,  a  fine,  grave 
expression  in  his  eyes,  "  only  that  I  happen  to  know 
the  lineage,  history,  and  descendants  of  the  house  of 
Drew  rather  well,  and,  while  it  is  not  precisely  im- 
possible that  such  a  thing  should  be,  still " 

"You  very  much  doubt  that  this  is  Lady  Con- 
stance Drew?  " 


260          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

Sir  Hugh  extended  his  hand. 

"  You'll  not  esteem  me  a  cad  for  planting  a  doubt 
that  may  be  wholly  without  warrant  ?  " 

"  On  the  contrary,"  said  Vail,  "  I  thank  you  heart- 
ily and  assure  you  of  my  highest  regard." 

Then  Sir  Hugh  was  gone,  leaving  much  for  Julian 
to  ponder. 


CHAPTER  XXXI 

A    WEAVING   OF    PLOTS 

SUNDAY  evening  developed  nothing  new.     The 
telephone  was  absolutely  silent,  save  for  a  mo- 
ment when  Enid  Puryn  rang,  with  a  tentative  sug- 
gestion to  Vail  that  she  and  Dick  were  alone. 

No  word  arrived  from  Garrison.  The  void  that 
had  swallowed  Barbara  was  echoing  with  emptiness, 
while  Julian  hoped  for  a  sign.  There  were  no  even- 
ing papers  to  apprise  him  of  the  little  or  much  the 
reporters  had  discovered  of  the  man  found  murdered 
in  the  house  where  he  had  slept. 

He  had  never  been  so  restless  in  his  life — never 
so  bereft  of  an  occupation  to  while  away  his  time. 
Of  the  hundreds  of  brilliant  homes  in  which  he  was 
certain  of  a  welcome,  not  one  appealed  even  slightly 
to  the  hungering  something  in  his  soul. 

At  nine  he  strolled  to  his  favorite  club,  then  turned 
away  at  the  door.  To  walk  seemed  the  one  satisfac- 
tion that  the  night  and  city  afforded.  He  traversed 
Central  Park  from  end  to  end,  and  at  midnight  was 
home,  as  sleepless  and  aimless  as  before. 

He  was  glad  of  Monday  morning,  with  its  toil. 
Moreover,  it  seemed  as  if  the  machinery  of  fate, 
as  well  as  that  of  the  city,  started  anew  after  one 
day's  rest,  and  made  almost  anything  possible. 

261 


THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

At  his  office,  however,  there  was  nothing  essentially 
new.  Even  the  enginery  of  Wall  Street,  where  his 
whole  financial  structure  trembled  with  uncertainty, 
was  only  about  to  resume  the  mighty  grind  of  its 
wheels  that  reduce  things  and  men  to  gold  or  dross. 

The  few  accumulated  telegrams  and  letters  of  im- 
portance that  arrived  fell  their  ways  with  me- 
chanical precision.  It  was  not  until  well  after  ten 
o'clock,  when  the  rush  and  roar  of  the  business 
mechanism  was  once  more  well  established,  that  the 
machinations  of  Gardner  demanded  an  hour  of  con- 
centrated labor.  Julian  was  glad  when  it  came,  how- 
ever, and  he  threw  not  only  all  his  reserves  of  money 
into  the  battle,  but  a  measure  of  resentment  as  well. 
He  would  not  be  worsted  all  around! 

To  his  great  relief  he  found  the  accounts  of  the 
latest  "  ruby  "  murder  entirely  unalarming.  The 
matter  was  treated  with  due  regard  for  its  fine  sensa- 
tional values,  but  even  the  name  of  Garrison  was 
omitted.  Not  even  the  shrewdest  reporter  had  con- 
nected the  crime  with  that  of  the  Maharajah.  The 
mystery  lay,  so  far  as  the  papers  were  concerned, 
in  the  fact  that  a  "  crook "  had  met  such  an  end 
in  a  house  too  empty  to  rob. 

The  noon  hour  arrived  with  never  a  word  from 
the  criminologist.  Julian  called  up  his  office^  to 
learn  he  was  still  away.  There  was  no  one  he  knew 
to  whom  to  appeal  for  word  of  Barbara,  whose  si- 
lence fretted  his  spirit.  He  had  never  been  so  eager 
in  his  life  for  even  a  slender  ray  of  hope. 

It  was  something  at  least  to  know  that  Lady  Kent 


A  WEAVING  OF  PLOTS  263 

had  lied  about  her  engagement.  Barbara,  he  was 
certain,  was  the  victim  of  force,  of  compulsion.  But, 
coerced  or  not,  she  had  a  right  to  a  word  of  defense 
before  being  judged  or  condemned. 

All  day  his  thoughts  were  upon  her.  Then  at  last 
it  came — the  word  for  which  he  was  hoping. 

It  arrived  in  the  form  of  a  tiny  note,  badly  soiled, 
and  directed  in  pencil.  The  opening  lines  were  more 
than  enough  to  stir  his  heart  to  maddest  thumping. 

"  Dear  Mr.  Vail :  I  don't  know  what  terrible  things 
may  have  happened  Saturday  evening,  after  that  tea, 
which  made  me  ill,  or  what  you  must  have  thought 
of  the  way  I  behaved,  but  I  haven't  time  to  write 
you  of  it  now.  Indeed,  I  hardly  know  how  or  where 
I  shall  be  able  to  mail  this  letter — and  I  dare  not 
tell  you  where  I  am — but  I  must  send  a  line  to  beg 
you  not  to  believe  a  number  of  the  things  you  heard 
that  I  could  not  deny  while  She  was  there,  and  to 
think  of  me  kindly,  if  you  can.  To-morrow  after- 
noon I  expect  to  get  my  trunk  at  last — or  at  least 
get  something  from  it.  If  you  never  hear  from  me 
again,  after  that,  please  believe  it  is  all  for  the  best, 
and  try  to  remember  once  in  a  while  that  the  sweet- 
est, most  precious,  thing  I  have  ever  known  was  to 

be  CaJled  «  Your  <  Little  Friend.'  " 

Vail  was  nearly  crazy  with  delight.  Had  the  let- 
ter been  the  clearest,  most  authentic  vindication  of 
Barbara  in  the  world,  he  could  scarcely  have  prized 
it  more  highly. 


264          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

He  kissed  it  like  a  boy.  He  paced  in  rapture  up 
and  down  the  room  in  a  glory  of  excitement.  Her 
simplest  word  in  repudiation  of  all  he  had  under- 
gone seemed  to  banish  forever  from  his  mind  any 
possible  thought  of  her  guilt.  Moreover,  he  was 
certain  of  her  love — and  that  was  more  priceless  than 
all!  If  only  the  slightest  hint  had  been  given  as 
to  where  he  could  find  her  now,  a  cannon-ball's  speed 
could  hardly  have  met  his  requirements  in  hurling 
himself  at  her  feet. 

But  abruptly,  in  the  midst  of  his  delirium,  a  new 
dread  went  home  to  his  heart.  She  was  going  to 
search  for  her  trunk.  She  had  doubtless  persuaded 
someone  to  assist  her  in  finding  it  again.  And  of 
all  the  crime-reddened  beings  by  whom  she  was  sur- 
rounded and  coerced,  which  one  of  the  lot  could  be 
trusted  to  protect  her  in  her  quest? 

He  was  certain  the  trunk  could  be  in  one  place 
only — the  house  of  iron  men !  This  she  had  all  but 
confessed. 

Apparently  no  one  save  himself  had  ever  con- 
nected this  second  house  with  the  Maharajah's  mur- 
der. It  was  under  no  suspicion.  If  she  went,  un- 
protected, to  a  place  like  that — God  only  knew  what 
might  occur! 

"  Garrison !  Garrison !  "  he  murmured.  "  Why 
couldn't  you  be  here  now  when  I  need  you  most?  " 

Some  way,  for  Barbara's  protection,  he  must  get 
to  that  house  at  once ! 

He  snatched  up  the  telephone,  demanded  Garri- 
son's office,  learned  that  the  criminologist  had  left 


A  WEAVING  OF  PLOTS  265 

the  key  to  the  "  ruby  crime  "  house  with  his  assist- 
ant, and  dashed  from  the  place  to  secure  that  bit 
of  metal  as  if  he  were  lashed  by  a  fiend. 

Meantime  a  second  pattern  that  the  fates  were 
weaving  in  the  web  was  rapidly  developing  in  the 
house  Lady  Kent  had  so  recently  deserted. 

In  a  littered  and  half-finished  room  of  the  attic, 
where  pots  and  pans,  a  kerosene  stove,  and  a  lot  of 
soiled  bedding  suggested  a  none  too  inviting  camp 
that  necessity  had  called  into  being,  two  frightened 
men  were  in  earnest  consultation. 

One  was  a  big,  red-headed  hulk  whose  alarms  had 
been  frequently  diluted  with  potent  drink,  from  a 
glass  that  he  constantly  filled.  Aside  from  his  blood- 
shot eyes  and  haggard  countenance,  he  might  have 
appeared  at  least  halfway  respectable,  since  his 
clothing  at  least  was  not  neglected. 

The  other  was  obviously  low,  though  perhaps  the 
more  sober  of  the  pair.  He  was  small  and  possessed 
of  a  vicious  physiognomy,  suggesting  that  of  a  rat. 
His  clothing  was  old  and  stained  with  dust  and  to- 
bacco. Yet  his  wits  were  clearer  than  his  -friend's. 

"  Ye  ain't  goin'  to  quit  me — 'cause  you  can't," 
he  remarked,  as  he  tapped  the  other's  hand  with  an 
empty  but  dripping  glass.  "  I  ain't  agoin'  to  go 
like  Nick,  all  by  my  lone,  which  same  you  can  re- 
member." 

"  What  can  we  do?  What  can  we  do?  "  said  the 
red-headed  creature,  helplessly.  "  This  house  is 
likely  watched.  We'll  have  two  of  them  after  us 
now." 


266          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

"  Blame  it  to  yourself,"  was  the  cheering  response 
of  his  comrade.  "  You  had  Vail  to  rights,  and 
passed  it  up  to  Nick,  after  you  was  there  on  the 
job." 

"  But  Vail  has  seen  me  before.  He  knows  me, 
Scratch,  he  knows  me." 

"  Scratch  "  showed  his  undisguised  contempt  for 
the  man  with  whom  he  was  partnered. 

"  So  do  I — know  yeh  f er  a  coward ;  that's  the  an- 
swer. I've  a  notion  to  cut  you  and  git." 

The  haggard  face  became  more  ghastly. 

"  For  God's  sake,  Scratch,  don't  talk  like  that. 
We're  all  right  if  we  stick  together." 

"  You're  all  right,  if  I  stick  by,"  corrected  his 
friend,  with  asperity.  "  And  I'll  only  stick  on  terms 
to  suit  myself !  Mr.  Moore,  you're  sure  in  a  hole." 

"  We're  in  it  together — unless  we  get  the  stone," 
responded  Moore,  whose  color  refused  to  return. 
"  I'll  do  anything  you  say." 

"  Right-ho ! "  exclaimed  Mr.  Scratch,  arising 
promptly.  "  Then  come  along  to  the  tin-man  house 
while  we  git  the  girl  to  rights." 

"  But  why  get  her  there,"  objected  Moore,  "  when 
she's  safe  enough  with  a  lady  you  know " 

"  A  lady !  There  you  are ! "  interrupted  Mr. 
Scratch.  "  And  the  same  scared  stiff,  with  your 
bunglin' !  What's  the  good  of  the  lady  now  ?  " 

"  Well,  for  the  matter  of  that,"  argued  Moore,  in 
his  desperation,  "  if  we  got  the  girl  as  you  say,  and 
held  her,  and  let  her  send  some  word  to  Vail — do 
you  think  he'd  bite  again  ?  " 


A  WEAVING  OF  PLOTS  267 

Mr.  Scratch  could  express  great  scorn,  as  his  ac- 
cent duly  established. 

"  Them  kind  ?  When  they're  stuck  on  a  pretty 
petticoat?  Twenty  times  a  day,  if  you  work  it  right ! 
I  tell  you  it's  my  way  or  none." 

Moore  took  time  to  reflect — and  mix  and  dispose 
of  a  drink. 

At  length  he  ventured:  "  There  may  be  something 
in  her  trunk  I  ought  to  see.  But  we  couldn't  get 
into  the  house  again  and  not  be  promptly  discov- 
ered." 

"  You  leave  that  to  me." 

"  And  where  would  you  take  the  girl?  " 

"  That's  my  business,  same  as  the  other.  You 
ain't  done  nuthin'  but  bungle  till  our  necks  is  ready 
for  the  rope.  Jest  take  two  minutes  decidin',  or 
it's  me  to  pass  you  up  and  go  it  on  my  lone.  You're 
in  this  worse  than  me." 

Despite  the  show  of  nerve  he  maintained,  he  was 
fully  as  frightened  as  his  pal.  A  certain  profes- 
sional hardening,  that  the  other  lacked,  afforded  him 
his  mask.  ^ 

Mr.  Moore  was  coldly  perspiring.  He  had  one 
more  objection  to  offer. 

"  Suppose  when  we  have  her,  just  as  you  like, 
we're  fooled  again  by  Vail?  Suppose  he's  given  up 
the  ruby?  I  tell  you,  Scratch,  if  we  make  a  mistake 
— if  we  don't  get  the  ruby  directly " 

"  Oh,  stow  it !  "  his  friend  interrupted.  "  You've 
said  that  two  hundred  times.  Can  you  think  of  a 
better  frame-up  than  mine?  " 


268          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

Moore  shook  his  head  in  despair. 

"  No— I'm  afraid  I  can't." 

"  Then  come  on.  You're  afraid  of  everything,  so 
what's  the  odds  where  you  git  it  next  ?  " 

Moore's  face  blanched. 

"But — why  go  so  early  as  this?  They  won't  get 
after  the  trunk  till  maybe  four." 

"Cree?"  demanded  Mr.  Scratch.  "Ketch  her 
foolin'  around  there  late!  Likely  you'd  rather  git 
around  when  they'd  pinched  the  trunk  and  made  their 
get-away.  Not  me!  Have  you  got  some  sheets  to 
bag  the  women's  heads?  " 

Moore  wavered. 

"  Do  we  have  to  use  violence — and  force?  " 

"  Do  you  want  to  bungle  this  again  ?  " 

"  But — I'm  sure  I  could  manage  to  get  the  girl 
in  a  quieter,  safer  way." 

"  Yes ! "  said  Mr.  Scratch,  in  his  scornful  sneer, 
"  I  don't  suppose  she's  got  you  plenty  buffaloed  with 
threats  to  peach  to  Vail.  Now  listen  to  this — de- 
bates is  closed!  Are  you  comin',  and  comin'  my 
way?" 

"  I  hope  it's  the  best,"  said  the  craven,  weakly. 
"  We  can  get  some  sheets  below." 


CHAPTER  XXXII 

THE    HOUSE    OF    IRON    MEN 

A>  Vail  had  declared,  in  his  hasty  review  of  tlie 
newest  situation,  the  street  where  one  of  the 
city's  rapidly  forgotten  crimes  had  been  committed 
contained  no  evidence  that  either  the  "  Maharajah  " 
house  or  its  nearby  neighbor  of  the  armor  was  un- 
der police  surveillance.  Indeed,  a  more  deserted 
thoroughfare  would  rarely  have  been  encountered  in 
Gotham. 

It  was  nearly  three  in  the  afternoon  when  at 
length  a  big  blue  limousine  car  came  softly  pur- 
ring down  the  street.  A  liveried  chauffeur  sat  in 
charge  of  the  wheel.  Within  were  two  women, 
one  tremendously  excited,  the  other  as  wary  as  a 
fox. 

They  were  Barbara  and  her  plausible  acquaint- 
ance, Mrs.  Cree — who  had  names  for  each  day  in  the 
week.  This  lady,  with  every  protestation  of  confi- 
dence in  and  the  simplicity  of  the  present  enterprise, 
nevertheless  subjected  the  region  to  the  sharpest 
scrutiny  as  the  car  drew  near  the  house  for  which 
she  held  the  key. 

At  the  very  second  when  the  man  at  the  wheel 
would  have  steered  in  and  halted  at  the  curb,  a 

269 


270          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

grocer's  wagon  swung  around  the  corner  and  came 
clattering  down  the  street. 

Mrs.  Cree  leaned  quickly  to  the  speaking-tube 
with  its  end  near  the  driver's  ear. 

"  Go  on,"  she  said,  "  around  the  block  and  back." 

The  round  of  the  block  was  made,  while  Barbara, 
white  and  breathing  shortly,  sat  crouched  in  the 
corner  of  the  seat.  Her  companion  watched  as  be- 
fore, especially  to  see  if  they  were  followed. 

Nothing  sinister  appeared.  Once  more  they  ap- 
proached their  objective  point,  and  on  this  occasion, 
as  the  street  was  clear,  the  limousine  came  to  a 
halt. 

Mrs.  Cree  pulled  down  a  heavy  veil  that  masked 
her  features  completely.  Then,  with  exceptional 
celerity  of  movement,  she  alighted  and  urged  her 
charge  to  the  sidewalk. 

The  driver,  under  previously  delivered  instruc- 
tions, proceeded  at  once  down  the  street,  even  as  the 
two  quickly-acting  women  climbed  the  steps  and  went 
into  the  house. 

"  There ! "  Mrs.  Cree  breathed  quietly,  as  the  door 
was  closed  behind  them.  "  No  one  the  wiser  for  our 
coming ! " 

Barbara  made  no  reply.  Nothing  could  have 
nerved  her  to  this  ordeal  save  the  hope  she  pos- 
sessed at  the  prospect  of  researching  her  trunk.  Her 
first  vague  alarm  subsided,  though  what  she  had 
feared  in  gaining  the  house  was  entirely  vague  in 
her  mind.  A  new  sort  of  fever  possessed  her  now, 
with  every  added  moment  of  delay. 


THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN          271 

Mrs.  Cree,  however,  was  cautious.  She  lifted  her 
veil  to  the  top  of  her  hat,  went  quietly  over  to  a 
door  that  stood  ajar,  peered  in,  stood  listening  for 
any  possible  sound,  and  then  smiled  reassuringly. 

"  We  may  as  well  go  upstairs." 

Barbara  timidly  followed,  glancing  about  at  the 
ill-lighted  features  of  the  place  and  conjuring  up,  as 
a  sort  of  protective  vision,  the  image  of  Vail  she 
had  seen  that  other  exciting  day  when,  as  now,  she 
had  come  for  the  papers  in  her  trunk. 

"  You  are  sure  it's  here?  "  she  ventured  to  ask,  in 
a  barely  audible  voice.  "  Do  you  know  what  room 
it's  in?" 

"  You'll  see,"  replied  her  companion,  whose  con- 
fidence rapidly  increased.  "  It  hasn't  been  just  left 
around." 

A  startling  snap  resounded  from  the  stairs  and 
echoed  through  the  hall,  as  they  started  for  the  sec- 
ond story.  Barbara  clasped  at  her  heart  in  alarm, 
while  Mrs.  Cree  laughed  at  her  fear. 

"  Did  you  think  it  was  a  ghost  ?  "  she  inquired. 
"  Losh !  ghosts  are  worth  such  money  these  days 
you  couldn't  even  catch  one  if  you  tried." 

They  had  come  to  the  landing  above. 

"  This  way,"  she  added,  moving  ahead  as  one  fa- 
miliar with  the  place.  "  Ain't  it  funny,  my  dear, 
where  they  used  to  build  their  closets  ?  " 

The  room  to  which  she  led  the  way  was  small,  dark, 
and  off  the  hall.  Its  second  door,  aside  from  that 
to  a  closet,  was  standing  a  trifle  ajar,  and  opened 
on  other  apartments. 


272          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

"  Right  in  here,"  said  Mrs.  Cree,  as  she  opened  the 
closet  in  question.  "  It  never  could  have  been  safer. 
We'll  both  have  to  pull  it  to  a  better  light." 

Tremendously  relieved  at  beholding  her  trunk, 
after  constant  fears  that  it  was  never  to  be  recov- 
ered, Barbara  willingly  lent  her  strength  to  dragging 
the  box  from  its  place. 

It  was  poorly  strapped,  and  locked.  They  hauled 
it  out  together,  then  moved  it  across  the  floor. 

"  Just  open  that  door  behind  you,"  instructed 
Mrs.  Cree. 

Barbara  threw  it  open — and  stood  there  staring, 
amazed. 

She  was  facing  the  room  of  iron  men,  with  a 
monster  round  table  at  its  center. 

Six  dully  gleaming  figures,  like  metal  ghosts,  for 
silence  and  their  weird  resemblance  to  men,  were 
ranged  along  the  opposite  wall  with  a  half-light  only 
upon  them.  They  stood  on  a  platform  built  the 
length  of  the  room.  Behind  each  lurked  a  shadow  as 
dark  as  a  dungeon's  door.  In  their  fixed,  semi-life- 
like postures  they  were  certainly  uncanny  to  be- 
hold. 

The  laugh  Mrs.  Cree  delivered  gave  Barbara  a 
start. 

"  Fine  company,"  said  the  woman,  cheerfully. 
"  How  would  you  like  'em  all  night,  and  you  here 
alone  in  the  house?  " 

"  They  look  so  alive ! "  said  the  staring  girl. 
"  They  almost  seem  to  move." 

"  Well,    we    don't,"    responded    her    companion. 


THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN          273 

"  We'll  take  this  in  amongst  'em,  and  hurry,  too,  if 
there's  anything  in  it  you  want." 

Once  more  they  heaved  at  the  heavy  trunk  and 
urged  it  into  the  room. 

Barbara  had  the  key.  The  lid  was  presently 
leaned  against  the  frame  of  the  door,  revealing  a 
flap,  in  the  style  of  many  of  the  old-time  trunks,  now 
rarely  seen,  and  to  this  Barbara  gave  her  atten- 
tion. 

She  had  barely  dropped  it  down,  to  remove  some 
hats,  when  a  sounding  snap  reverberated  sharply 
through  the  house. 

Mrs.  Cree  clutched  her  quickly  by  the  arm,  her 
own  face  blanched  with  fear. 

"What  was  that?" 

Barbara  trembled  where  she  stood,  glancing  fur- 
tively about. 

"  I  don't  know,"  she  whispered.  "  Oh,  I  hope " 

"  Sh-s-s-sh,"  said  Mrs.  Cree. 

She  tiptoed  silently  towards  the  door  that  led  to 
the  secondary  hall.  She  had  no  more  than  come 
there  than  she  suddenly  uttered  a  piercing  shriek 
and  staggered  back  into  the  room. 

A  curse  replied,  from  out  beyond,  then  the  tramp 
of  heavy  feet  as  someone  ran  to  the  door. 

Barbara,  held  there  as  rigid  as  ice,  beheld  two  men 
dart  actively  in,  both  of  them  thoroughly  masked. 

A  stifled  cry  escaped  her  lips  as  she  saw  the  larger 
of  the  ruffians  plunge  with  a  sack  to  smother  Mrs. 
Cree.  The  smaller  man  was  running  towards  her- 
self. 


274          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

In  sheer  desperation  she  flung  an  old  hat  in  his 
face  and  turned  to  flee  around  the  table. 

The  man  leaped  in  active  pursuit. 

There  was  no  escape  at  either  door.  Mrs.  Cree 
was  struggling  in  the  path  of  one,  the  trunk  was 
blocking  the  other. 

Around  again  sped  the  frightened  girl,  the  man 
almost  upon  her. 

Then  an  amazing  thing  occurred. 

With  a  ringing  shout,  like  an  old  Crusader's  bat- 
tle cry,  the  nearest  man  of  iron  leaped  like  a  mailed 
and  infuriated  Nemesis  from  the  platform,  to  land 
on  the  ruffian's  neck.  The  fellow  went  down  to  the 
floor,  with  a  yell  of  terror  and  awe.  The  iron  knight 
crashed  down  upon  him,  with  a  din  of  clanking 
plates. 

Scream  after  scream  resounded  through  the  house, 
where  Mrs.  Cree  with  frantic  might  was  battling  with 
the  man  who  had  attacked  her. 

Then  Barbara  cried  out  again,  but  now  in  joy.  A 
tall,  active  figure  had  risen  from  the  melee  on  the 
floor. 

"  Julian ! "  she  shrilled,  reeling  weakly  to  the 
table;  then  she  felt  the  mighty  comfort  of  his 
arms. 

A  fearful  din  of  thumping  came  from  the  hall 
below.  The  door  was  being  stormed  by  men  who  had 
secretly  watched  the  house. 

Aware  of  the  folly  of  permitting  himself  and  Bar- 
bara to  be  found  in  such  a  place,  and  unprepared 
to  do  battle  with  both  the  men,  while  a  helpless  girl 


THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN          275 

was  there  to  afford  them  a  target,  Julian  dashed 
with  her  headlong  past  the  pair  by  the  door  and 
fled  for  the  panel  in  the  wall. 

"  The  roof !  "  he  heard  abruptly  shouted,  where  the 
smaller  thief  had  once  more  gained  his  feet,  and  then, 
amidst  dull  clattering  and  blows,  the  sound  of  offi- 
cers swarming  up  the  stairs,  and  the  cries  of  Mrs. 
Cree,  he  thrust  back  the  panel,  supported  Barbara 
through  the  yawning  door,  and  was  presently  fum- 
bling for  an  incandescent  torch,  laid  carefully  by 
for  his  needs. 

He  had  barely  closed  the  sliding  door  when  men 
came  running  to  the  room. 

Barbara's  strength  had  departed,  yet  she  had  not 
actually  swooned.  He  took  her  up  in  his  arms  and 
flashed  his  light  that  showed  him  the  way  down- 
stairs. 

He  reached  the  base  of  the  circular  steps,  panting 
from  his  exertions.  The  long,  dark  corridor  yawned 
before  him  forbiddingly,  but  he  welcomed  both  its 
silence  and  its  chill. 

Pausing  a  moment  to  regain  his  breath,  he  pro- 
ceeded onwards  as  before.  A  wild  exultant  joy  was 
in  his  heart.  It  increased  as  Barbara,  supported  on 
his  breast,  slipped  one  arm  weakly  about  his  neck 
and  clung  to  him,  softly  crying. 

At  the  end  of  the  passage  he  placed  her  down,  for 
the  door  to  the  cellar  was  closed. 

"  All  right,  little  friend,  we're  all  right  now,"  he 
told  her,  reassuring^,  his  ?.rm  still  encircling  her 
waist,  but  she  made  no  attempt  to  reply. 


276          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

He  opened  the  door  and  assisted  her  through  be- 
fore him.  It  had  barely  closed  upon  them  when  out 
of  the  darkness  of  the  old-time  cellar  four  half -seen 
men  sprang  upon  them  and  pinioned  Vail's  arms  to 
his  sides. 

Then  the  blinding  glare  of  a  bull's-eye  lantern  was 
turned  upon  his  face. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII 

THEIR    HOUR    IN    THE    PARK 

FOR  one  tense  moment  there  was  not  a  sound,  save 
one  little  cry  that  issued  from  Barbara's  lips. 

Then  came  another  surprise. 

"Holy  smoke!"  said  a  voice.  "What's  the  use? 
It's  you  again  ?  " 

"  Garrison !  "  said  Vail.  "  Is  that  you,  Garri- 
son?" 

"  Who  else  could  have  my  luck?  "  was  the  crimi- 
nologist's  answer.  "  Nettleton,  strike  a  light,  till  I 
gather  my  wits !  I  might  have  known  the  birds 
would  fly  by  the  roof ! " 

The  men,  as  well  as  Barbara,  were  puzzled  by  T/hat 
they  heard. 

"  Do  you  mean  these  is  no  good,  after  all?  "  said 
one,  who  had  gripped  his  vice-like  talons  on  Vail. 
"  You  don't  want  me  to  hold  'um  no  more?  " 

"  No,  no — release  him,  certainly,"  was  Garrison's 
prompt  reply.  "  Get  out,  up  front — you  and  Haw- 
thorne— see  if  you're  needed  with  the  others." 

Nevertheless,  as  Nettleton  scratched  a  blazing 
match  and  applied  it  to  a  torch,  the  two  big  fellows 
ordered  to  the  street  paused  a  moment  to  look  at  the 
girl. 

Barbara  clung  to  Julian's  arm  like  the  veriest 
277 


278          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

frightened  child.  Since  the  days  when  witches  were 
tried  in  dungeon  keeps,  perhaps  because  of  their 
beauty,  no  more  appealing  vision  of  loveliness  dis- 
traught was  ever  revealed  by  the  light. 

With  her  great  eyes  blazing  with  the  liquid  clear- 
ness of  a  deer's,  her  red  lips  slightly  parted,  her  won- 
drously  dark-red  hair  disheveled,  and  her  color  only 
faintly  returning  to  cheeks  as  white  and  translucent 
as  snowy  onyx,  Barbara  seemed  some  hunted  nymph 
as  she  leaned  there  on  Julian's  arm.  Her  bosom  still 
heaved  with  excitement  and  alarm.  A  wistful  ques- 
tioning burned  in  the  glance  she  cast  about  her  on 
the  men. 

Garrison  took  off  his  hat,  no  more  in  tribute  to 
her  beauty  than  in  recognition  of  her  innocence,  no 
matter  what  facts  might  accuse. 

"  Miss  Lee,"  he  said,  "  I  must  present  myself,  I 
fear.  I'm  Jerold  Garrison,  a  poor,  benighted  friend 
of  Mr.  Vail's,  vainly  striving  to  render  him  a  serv- 
ice. My  one  regret  must  always  be  that  we  could 
not  have  met  under  pleasanter  'conditions — and 
sooner." 

Barbara  tried  to  smile. 

"  Thank  you  very  much,"  she  answered,  faintly. 
"  I'm  afraid  I've  been  a  lot  of  trouble." 

"  But  why  stay  here  ?  "  said  Julian,  longing  to  get 
Barbara  away.  "  Can't  we  get  out  to  the  light?  " 

"  Certainly,"  said  Garrison.  "  You  see,  I  expected 
someone  else.  I'm  a  little  disappointed." 

He  led  the  way  promptly  to  the  cellar  stairs  and 
the  hall  of  the  echoing  house.  There  he  halted. 


THEIR  HOUR  IN  THE  PARK         279 

"  Mr.  Vail,  I  must  see  you  soon.  This  place  will 
soon  be  full  of  policemen.  May  I  once  more  offer 
you  my  car?  " 

"  You're  a  trump,  old  man !  "  said  Vail.  "  Do  you 
happen  to  know  the  very  best  place  in  all  New  York 
for  Miss  Lee  to  be  safe  to-night?  " 

Garrison's  eyes  burned  brightly.  "  I  do.  Take 
her  at  once  to  my  wife." 

A  lump  came  at  once  in  Barbara's  throat,  she 
hardly  knew  why. 

"Oh,  by  George!"  said  Vail.  "But  you're 
sure " 

"  Absolutely !  "  Hurriedly  writing  the  address 
and  a  line  of  explanation  to  his  wife,  Garrison  thrust 
his  card  in  Julian's  hand.  "  Don't  stop  to  be 
polite,"  he  added,  smilingly.  "  Your  time  is 
brief." 

He  urged  them  out  of  the  door,  to  the  curb,  where 
his  car  was  waiting,  in  charge  of  a  hired  chauffeur. 

A  shout  was  raised  from  the  house  of  iron  men, 
where  a  blue-coat  came  dashing  down  the  walk. 

"  Speed  her  up  to  the  limit,"  Garrison  instructed, 
laconically,  and,  seeing  the  car  quickly  started  on 
its  way,  he  turned  and  caught  the  policeman  in  his 
arms. 

For  a  moment  both  Vail  and  Barbara  were  too 
occupied  for  speech.  They  were  watching  the  man 
in  pursuit.  But  the  car  rolled  briskly  around  the 
corner  and  the  scene  was  left  behind.  The  last  im- 
pression was  one  of  men  hotly  swarming  from  both 
the  houses. 


280          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

It  was  presently  certain  that  no  one  was  following 
behind. 

Julian  leaned  over  to  the  driver. 

"  To  Mr.  Garrison's  house,  if  you  please ;"  and 
he  read  the  address  from  the  card.  "  You  might 
take  it  just  a  bit  slower  and  go  by  way  of  the 
Park." 

Then  he  settled  for  at  least  a  little  comfort  and 
took  Barbara's  hand  in  his  own. 

She  had  sunk  in  her  corner  of  the  tonneau,  still 
pale,  but  faintly  smiling.  She  met  his  gaze  in  her 
steady,  brave  way,  her  eyes  appealingly  wistful. 

"  You  must  have  been  there  all  the  time,"  she  said, 
beholding  again  that  astonishing  sight  of  the  leap- 
ing iron  man.  "  I  was  never  so  glad  to  see 

anyone I  was  never  so  frightened  in  my 

life." 

He  asked,  "  Who  were  the  men  ?  " 

"  Why,  I  don't  know !  I  haven't  the  slightest 
idea.  How  long  had  you  been  behind  that  armor 
thing?  " 

"  Two  hours,  about.     But  tell  me,  Barbara " 

"  Two  hours !  " 

"  Waiting  to  serve  you  if  I  could.  Had  you  no 
idea  of  the  risk  you  ran  in  going  to  such  a  place?  " 

"  I  had  to  go,"  she  answered,  honestly.  "  What 
will  they  do  with  my  trunk?  " 

"  I  should  say  Mr.  Garrison  will  get  it. — Bar- 
bara, isn't  it  time  at  last  to  tell  me  what  is  going 
on?  Perhaps  this  isn't  the  time  or  place,"  and  he 
nodded  towards  the  driver,  "  but  things  can't  go  on 


THEIR  HOUR  IN  THE  PARK        281 

as  they  have,  you  know,  for  affairs  have  come  to  a 
crisis." 

She  was  silent  for  a  moment,  and  withdrew  her 
hand  at  last. 

"  I  haven't  been  fair,  of  course,  from  the  first,  but 

when  one's  father — when  one's  afraid Oh !  now 

that  Mr.  Garrison  may  get  the  papers,  after  all, 

couldn't  we How  can  I  go  to  his  house?  I 

agreed  to  return  to " 

"  Lady  Kent?  "  he  added,  at  her  pause. 

Barbara  dropped  her  gaze. 

"  She  has  been  very  kind — some  ways,  I  mean.  I'd 
rather  not  offend  her — make  her  angry — run  away 

and  get  her  started I  don't  know  what  she'll 

do!" 

"  What  can  she  do  ?  What  is  this  power  she  wields 
over  you  and  your  fate?  Why  did  you  let  her  hustle 
you  off  on  our  way  up  from  Hackett  Tides  ?  What's 
all  this  mystery  about?  " 

The  appeal  came  back  to  her  eyes. 

"  Didn't  you  say  this  was  not  the  place — the  time 
— for  all  these  questions  ?  " 

"  We've  got  to  have  it  out,"  he  told  her,  simply. 
« We'll  stop  in  the  Park  for  a  while  to  ourselves, 
and  walk  the  last  few  blocks." 

The  Garrisons  lived  in  Central  Park  West,  over- 
looking the  reservoirs.  Julian  waited  till  the 
chauffeur  was  swinging  through  the  western  section 
of  the  great  reserve  of  grass  and  trees,  then  re- 
quested him  to  halt  where  a  bench  was  sequestered  in 
the  shade. 


282          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

"  You  may  leave  us  here,  if  you  please,"  he  said. 
"  We  prefer  to  walk  to  the  house." 

The  man  saluted  and  drove  away,  to  return  the 
car  to  his  chief. 

"  But  really "  started  Barbara,  when  Julian 

took  her  firmly  by  the  arm  and  marched  her  towards 
the  seat. 

"  We  couldn't  talk  at  Garrison's,  and  we've  got 
to  have  it  out." 

Barbara  slightly  trembled. 

"  I  don't  see  how  I  can  tell  things — even  now,"  she 
timidly  objected.  "  I'd  have  told  you  before  if  I 
could." 

He  sat  her  down  and  took  the  place  beside  her. 

"  It  might  have  saved  trouble  if  you  had.  We 
were  getting  a  better  understanding  when  you  were 
suddenly  spirited  away.  To  get  back  to  that,  was 
it  Lady  Kent  who  won  that  little  trick  ?  " 

"  No — it  was — somebody  else  ?  " 

"  You  fear  to  tell  me  whom  ?  It  was  someone  you 
fear,  I'm  certain,  as  you  seem  to  fear  Lady  Kent. 
Do  you  know  what  occurred  when  I  drank  that  cup 
of  tea?" 

She  looked  at  him  in  affright. 

"  No,  for  I  was  ill." 

"  Tell  me  this,"  he  demanded,  eagerly :  "  Did  you 
enter  that  room  again  presently  and  see  me,  over  by 
the  window?  " 

"  Why,  certainly  not.  I  couldn't  come  down 
again." 

This    much    he    could    readily   believe.      He   had 


THEIR  HOUR  IN  THE  PARK        283 

made   up   his   mind   it  was    someone   else   who   had 
laughed  in  derision  at  his  plight. 

"  Barbara,  something  black  and  horrible  is  behind 
these  friends  of  yours,"  he  said.  "  I  call  them 
friends — perhaps  they  are  not — I  know  they're  not 
genuine  friends.  What  is  it  you  fear,  that  you  will 
not  share  with  me,  after  all  we've  been  through 
together  ?  " 

Her  face  was  white  and  tense. 

"  It's  something  I'd  rather  not  tell." 

"  But  give  me  a  chance,"  he  beseeched  her.  "  You 
know  by  now  you  can  trust  me  to  help  you — to  the 
end.  It  is  something  about  your  father,  I  imagine." 

She  nodded,  her  eyes  pleadingly  dilated. 

"  If  only  they  hadn't  come  to-day !  If  I'd  found 
the  papers  in  the  trunk !  Yet  they  may  not  be  there ! 
Suppose  I  should  tell  you  something  that  would  end 
our  friendship  forever?  And  it  might  be  wrong!  I 
wrote  you  perhaps  you'd  never  see  me  after  to-day. 
You  don't  think  that  was  an  easy  thing  to  say?  I 
can't  tell  things  that  might  do  wrong  to  everyone 
concerned !  I  simply  won't !  If  I  get  the  papers  and 
find  it's  true — I  couldn't  face  even  you ! " 

She  arose  and  turned  away,  to  hide  her  distress 
and  emotion. 

Vail  was  instantly  at  her  side. 

"  Barbara,  I  love  you !  "  he  said.  "  Do  you  hear 
me? — I  love  you!  I  love  you!"  He  caught  her 
and  kissed  her  on  the  mouth.  "  You  shan't  go  away 
and  leave  me  so  again.  You've  got  to  let  me  fight 
your  battles.  I  want  you  to  marry  me,  right  away, 


284          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

and  give  me  the  right  to  protect  you!  Sweetheart 
• — my  loyal  little  friend — we'll  face  the  world  to- 
gether ! " 

She  could  not,  had  it  been  to  save  her  life,  have 
resisted  that  moment  of  joy.  Nothing  so  wondrous, 
so  glorious  had  ever  swept  upon  her  with  its  power. 
A  madness,  divinely  ineffable,  coursed  through  her 
welcoming  pulses.  She  was  swept  away  on  the  storm 
of  his  love  like  a  willing  bird  hurled  into  summer. 
She  gave  him  the  answer  of  lips  to  lips  before  she 
could  think  what  it  meant.  She  tasted  the  marvelous 
wine  of  love  before  she  had  power  to  resist.  She 
loved  him  with  all  the  power  of  her  being ;  she  longed 
for  the  haven  of  security  in  his  arms ;  she  had  never 
been  so  tempted  to  exchange  her  loneliness  for  com- 
panionship, her  heart's  and  spirit's  homelessness  for 
the  glowing  hearth  of  love. 

Then  she  pantingly  thrust  him  away. 

"  No,  no,  no,"  she  implored.  "  Please  don't  say  it 
any  more.  I  mustn't !  I  will  not !  Julian,  I  love 

you  too  much I  mean — I  mean  I  don't — I 

don't  love  you  enough!  You  shan't! — I'd  rather 
die!" 

"  You  do ! — you  love  me !  "  he  insisted,  passion- 
ately. "  You  couldn't  help  it  when  I  love  you  so ! 
You  shan't  refuse!  You've  got  to  let  me  have  the 
right  to  protect  you  night  and  day ! " 

Her  mastery  came  reluctantly  since  it  meant  she 
must  push  him  away.  The  smile  that  crept  wistfully 
back  to  her  lips  was  a  beautiful  thing  to  see. 

"  Not  for  the  world — the  happiest,  dearest  world 


THEIR  HOUR  IN  THE  PARK        285 

God  ever  made ! "  she  answered,  in  her  new  resolu- 
tion. "  So  please  don't  say  it  again." 

He  could  feel  both  her  strength  and  her  weakness 
— the  one  that  held  him  far  away,  the  other  that  wel- 
comed him  home.  He  was  strangely  aware  of  the 
potent  something,  whipping  her  back  to  a  path  of 
stones  she  had  traveled  so  long,  alone. 

He  felt  her  nobility  and  courage — the  readiness 
for  sacrifice  that  prompted  all  she  did.  It  drew  him 
the  more,  cemented  his  love — exalted  the  passion  she 
inspired. 

"  I  can't  give  you  up,  no  matter  what  has  oc- 
curred. I  love  you !  "  he  said.  "  I  refuse  to  accept 
your  decision!  Barbara,  what  is  the  world  and  its 
views  to  those  who  make  worlds  with  their  love? 
You've  got  to  listen,  little  friend ! "  And  he  moved 
to  enfold  her  as  before. 

"  No  !  "  she  answered,  pleadingly.  "  Please  take 
me  to  your  friends." 

She  retreated,  as  one  leaving  all  the  world  of 
beauty  and  comfort  behind.  Her  eyes  were  brim- 
ming with  tears  of  joy  and  bitter  self-denial.  She 
conjured  a  smile,  inexpressibly  lovely,  to  meet  his 
beseeching  eyes.  Then  she  turned  and  continued 
along  the  path,  unable  to  endure  it  any  longer. 

"  Dearest !  "  said  Julian,  following,  "  you  don't 
know  the  way  to  the  house." 

He  made  no  attempt  to  halt  her  again,  but  merely 
walked  at  her  side.  They  were  silent,  quitting  this 
city-surrounded  Eden,  nevermore  to  be  merely  a 
park,  to  them,  but  a  sacred  grove  instead. 


286          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

At  length,  emerging  to  the  street  and  facing  the 
stone  wall  of  houses,  Julian  abruptly  comprehended 
how  much  still  remain  unrevealed. 

"  You'll  promise  you'll  not  run  away  again,  or 
go  back  to  Lady  Kent?  You'll  remain  with  Mrs. 
Garrison,  at  least  till  we  find  your  trunk?  " 

"  You're  going  to  hunt  for  it,  too  ?  " 

"  Why,  naturally,  little  friend.  You'd  hardly  ex- 
pect that  I'd  leave  it  even  to  my  friends  ?  " 

"  No,  of  course — I  suppose "  she  faltered. 

"  Someways  I'd  rather  that  no  one  but  you But 

— Julian — if  you  happen  to  be  the  first — if  you  find 
it — please  let  me  have  it — all  alone.  You  will,  you 
will,  I  know." 

"  Will  you  promise  not  to  run  away,  no  matter 
what  it  contains  ?  " 

Bravely  she  met  his  eyes.  "  I'll  do — what's  best — 
for  us  all." 

"  Will  you  let  me  have  a  little  voice  in  what  is 
best  for  me?  " 

"  If  I  have  the  strength— I'll  try." 

"  You'll  let  me  come  and  see  you  here,  to-night?  " 
They  had  come  to  the  Garrisons'  house. 

"  Perhaps — if  it's  really  wise." 

Then  Julian  rang  the  bell. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV 

A    DRAMATIC    CLIMAX 

VAIL  did  not  again  see  Barbara  that  evening. 
He  sent  a  magnificent  armful  of  roses  and 
a  monster  box  of  chocolates  at  eight  and  followed 
his  gifts  in  half  an  hour,  only  to  learn  that  Miss 
Lee  had  a  violent  headache,  and,  under  orders  from 
Dorothy  Garrison,  had  sensibly  retired. 

She  had  written  a  note,  in  case  he  should  come 
and  meet  this  disappointment. 

"  Dear  Mr.  Vail : — I  know  I  have  been  a  very  great 
trial  and  trouble  to  you,  ever  since  that  day  I  found 
myself  in  your  office,  and  now  I'm  almost  ashamed 
to  ask  another  favor.  But  there  is  no  one  else  I 
may  turn  to,  or  feel  so  certain  I  may  trust.  To-day 
you  spoke  of  my  trunk  again,  and  of  course  you 
know  it  is  very  important  to  me — that  is,  I  am  al- 
most positive  it  contains  some  papers  I  have  never 
been  able  to  find — even  when  I  had  it  all  to  myself. 
They  must  be  in  it  somewhere — doubtless  in  a  secret 
slide,  or  something  of  that  nature,  and  I'm  afraid 
I'm  ill  with  worry  about  them,  after  what  has  hap- 
pened to-day. 

"  If  they  fell  into  anyone's  hands  but  yours  I 
387 


288          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

might  not  receive  them  to  read  them  first  and 

Well,  I  must !  I  simply  must !  I  cannot  tell  you 
how  much  this  means  to  me.  But  if  only  you  could 
get  them  for  me,  right  away,  and  not  let  anyone 
know  they  are  in  the  trunk,  or  anything  about  them, 
I  would  be  more  than  merely  grateful  all  my  life. 
I  know  this  is  a  great  deal  to  ask,  when  I  have  acted 
so  badly — but  you  have  made  me  trust  you — 

and I  just  had  to  ask  you,  that's  all. 

"  Ever  your  faithful « little  friend,' 

"  BARBABA." 

In  his  zeal  and  eagerness  to  serve  her  instantly, 
Vail  would  have  bolted  forthwith  for  the  house  of 
iron  men,  had  not  two  things  given  him  pause.  The 
first  was  his  acknowledged  ignorance  of  what  had 
transpired  at  the  place  since  their  escape;  the  sec- 
ond was  a  call  on  the  telephone,  from  Garrison  him- 
self, who  had  not  been  home  for  dinner. 

"  Hullo,  old  man !  "  he  called  across  the  wire,  when 
Julian  took  the  receiver.  "  I  thought  I  might  just 
possibly  catch  you  at  the  house.  How's  Miss  Lee? 
..  .  .  Oh,  I'm  sorry  to  hear  it.  ...  Well,  she'll  be 
all  right  in  the  morning.  .  .  .  Hope  you  like  her 
hostess.  She's  been  through  some  trials  herself.  .  .  . 
But  I  didn't  call  you  up  to  throw  bouquets  at  my 
wife.  I  want  you  to  meet  me  at  once  at  the  home 
of  Miss  Puryn.  .  .  .  Yes,  Miss  Puryn's — as  soon  as 
you  can  come.  I  have  something  important  to  re- 
port to  you  both,  and  prefer  to  submit  it  there.  .  .  . 
Now  please  permit  me  to  manage  this  one  little  mat- 


A  DRAMATIC  CLIMAX  289 

ter  my  way.  .  .  .  Oh,  if  you've  got  a  taxi  waiting, 
you  can  get  here  in  fifteen  minutes.  .  .  ,  Yes,  she's 
there.  I've  just  finished  making  the  appointment. 
...  All  right.  I'll  be  there  when  you  arrive." 

Reluctant  to  leave  the  neighborhood  where  Bar- 
bara was  lodged,  and  not  particularly  pleased  at  the 
prospect  of  encountering  Iris  again,  Vail  neverthe- 
less departed  at  once  and  was  driven  across  the  Park. 

All  the  way  he  gravely  pondered  what  Garrison 
might  have  discovered  that  called  for  this  manner 
of  report — this  double-barreled  method  of  unburden- 
ing facts,  doubtless  vital  to  the  case  concerning  his 
birthday  "  gift."  He  felt  it  was  far  more  important 
that  he  and  the  criminologist  should  be  closeted 
somewhere  together,  over  later  aspects  of  the  case. 

He  was  thoroughly  impatient  to  know  what  had 
happened  where  the  men  and  Barbara's  woman  com- 
panion had  been  left  embroiled  about  the  trunk.  He 
was  equally  eager  to  be  informed  what  might  have 
become  of  Barbara's  property,  with  all  those  police- 
men overrunning  the  place. 

When  he  came  to  the  Puryn  mansion  it  was  almost 
wholly  dark.  Garrison's  car  was  standing  at  the 
curb.  Garrison  himself  was  already  upstairs,  where 
Vail  was  promptly  conducted. 

The  two  men  had  barely  exchanged  a  formal 
greeting,  in  the  room  to  which,  so  often  in  the  past, 
Julian  had  been  directed,  when  Iris  came  in,  with 
the  slightest  nod  and  conventional  smile  for  each. 

Garrison  promptly  came  to  their  business. 

"  May  I  close  the  door  ?  "  he  asked  their  hostess, 


290          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

quietly,  with  a  gesture  towards  the  one  open  en- 
trance. "  My  report  is  rather  confidential." 

"  Certainly,"  Iris  answered,  seating  herself  in  her 
favorite  chair,  near  the  Oriental  hangings.  "  But 
I  trust  Mr.  Vail  may  have  mentioned  that  all  this 
matter  is  of  less  importance  now  than  it  might  other- 
wise have  been." 

Garrison  looked  from  one  to  the  other. 

"  I'm  afraid  my  wits  are  dull  from  overuse." 

Vail  answered  dryly,  "  Miss  Puryn  has  honored 
herself  by  a  discontinuance  of  our  former  relation- 
ship." 

Garrison  nodded. 

"  I  should  say  the  matter  has  lost  little  if  any 
significance,  inasmuch  as  you  both  desired  my  serv- 
ices in  clearing  up  a  certain  train  of  facts,  respect- 
ing the  so-called  birthday  '  gift '  to  Mr.  Vail." 

Iris  tried  to  look  bored.  As  a  matter  of  fact  she 
was  intensely  curious. 

"  I  trust  your  report  is  brief,"  was  all  she  replied. 

"  Brief,  but  a  trifle  complicated,"  was  Garrison's 
response.  "  I  wish  to  make  it  quite  complete,  so  far 
as  it  has  its  bearing  on  the  houses  of  Puryn  and 
Vail.  In  the  first  place,  Miss  Lee  informed  you  both, 
upon  being  released  from  the  box,  that  she  came  from 
Hartford,  that  she  had  no  friends  in  Manhattan,  and 
that  she  was  wholly  ignorant  as  to  how  or  why  she 
came  to  be  delivered  as  she  was  to  Mr.  Vail." 

"  She  told  an  untruth,"  said  Iris. 

"  Her  statement  was  essentially  accurate  in  every 
particular,"  corrected  the  criminologist,  quietly. 


A  DRAMATIC  CLIMAX  291 

"  Her  '  friends  '  came  afterward,  but  that  has  no 
part  in  the  matter  I  came  to  submit.  I  have  already 
informed  Mr.  Vail  that  the  cardboard  case  was  made 
by  Epsilon,  the  florist,  on  orders  apparently  ema- 
nating from  one  of  his  wealthy  acquaintances,  who 
was  actually  on  the  ocean  at  the  time." 

Iris  was  eager  for  the  story. 

"  She  gave  the  order  and  sailed  ?  " 

"  I  said  the  order  was  given  in  her  name.  As  a 
matter  of  fact  it  came  from  a  wholly  different  source. 
The  matter  has  never  been  exactly  a  joke,  although 
its  serious  consequences  were  perhaps  not  foreseen  by 
all  concerned  in  the  plan." 

Iris  spoke  again. 

"  It  was  not  a  woman  at  all?  " 

"  All  in  good  time.  A  deliberate  conspiracy  was 
hatched  by  a  group  of  persons  to  deliver  a  living 
young  woman  in  a  box  to  Mr.  Vail.  Through  added 
complications  the  affair  became  positive  crime,  of 
the  most  extraordinary  nature.  There  has  not  been 
a  moment  since  that  day  and  hour  when  Mr.  Vail's 
life  has  not  been  in  imminent  danger." 

Iris  was  pale. 

"  But  who  did  it?    And  why  was  it  done?  " 

"  It  was  done  primarily,  Miss  Puryn,  with  per- 
nicious intent  to  arouse  your  jealous — I  mean  your 
natural  resentment— to  bring  about  the  precise  re- 
sults, as  between  yourself  and  Mr.  Vail,  that  you  in- 
form me  have  taken  place." 

"  It  was  not  through  any  fault  of  mine !  "  said 
Iris,  sharply.  "  I  have  nothing  to  regret  in  that, 


292          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

Mr.  Garrison.  But — you  don't  mean  to  hint  that 

friends  of  Mr.  Vail  planned Oh,  I  don't  mean 

that,  of  course !  " 

Julian  merely  smiled. 

Garrison  made  a  gesture  of  despair. 

"  Let  me  clear  it  up  as  rapidly  as  possible.  A 
certain  woman,  secretly  admiring  Mr.  Vail,  though 
entirely  unencouraged,  sought  out  a  female  char- 
latan— a  woman  well  known  to  the  city  police  for 
connections  with  thieves,  procurers,  and  the  like — to 
enlist  her  services  in  bringing  about  the  outrage  of 
which  you  are  aware." 

"  Well — who  is  she,  then  ?  Who  is  the  woman  so 
desperately  in  love  with  Mr.  Vail?  " 

Julian,  red  with  anger  and  mortification,  sat  in 
absolute  silence,  still  fixing  his  eyes  on  Garrison's 
face,  as  the  latter  proceeded  with  his  story. 

"  This  woman  conspired  with  one  *  Madame  Star- 
light/ so  called,  to  break  the  relationship  between 
yourself  and  Mr.  Vail,  having  an  utterly  heartless 
disregard  for  the  fate  of  Miss  Lee,  yourself,  or  any- 
one else  concerned.  She  paid  all  the  expenses  of  the 
infamous  plot,  whereby  an  innocent  girl  was  involved 
in  an  astonishing  network  of  crime,  and  has  worked 
her  devices  since — but  without  conspicuous  suc- 
cess. 

"  She  has  managed  so  to  surround  Miss  Lee  and 
Mr.  Vail  with  complications  that  neither  is  safe  in 
this  city.  Two  men  have  already  lost  their  lives 
in  the  working  out  of  the  plot  and  related  crimes. 
This  guilty  woman  is  directly  answerable  for  the 


A  DRAMATIC  CLIMAX 

whole  affair  and  is   certainly  liable  to   arrest,  im- 
prisonment  " 

Vail  stood  up. 

"But,  Garrison,  who  is  the  woman?" 
A  strange  smile  came  to  the  features  of  the  crimi- 
nologist. 

"  Her  name,  betrayed  by  Madame  Starlight " 

A  sudden  shriek  rang  out  through  the  room,  from 
behind  the  Persian  hangings,  used  to  conceal  a  door. 

The  woven  fabric  was  seized  with  convulsive  mo- 
tion. 

Iris  and  Garrison  sprang  to  their  feet,  as  Vail 
was  running  forward. 

It  Was  Julian  who  flung  the  hangings  aside — 
revealing  Enid  Puryn  on  the  -floor. 

Iris  sank  on  the  couch,  appalled  and  white,  cov- 
ering her  face  with  her  hands. 

Enid  had  fainted  where  she  lay. 


CHAPTER  XXXV 

AN    UNFINISHED    MISSION 

IT  was  not  until  the  two  grim  men  had  ridden  sev- 
eral blocks  down  the  Avenue  that  Garrison  finally 
spoke. 

"  I  hate  these  affairs  that  involve  our  decent  peo- 
ple. They  take  it  so  hard  when  the  punishment 
comes  that  it  almost  excites  us  to  pity. — But,  what 
could  I  do?" 

"  Good  heavens ! "  said  Vail,  "  you  couldn't  have 
spared  her,  of  course! — I'm  sorry  for  Iris,  for  at 
least  she  is  innocent." 

"  I  suppose  I  might  have  managed  it  less  pain- 
fully," Garrison  confessed,  "  but  this  Madame  Star- 
light had  not  given  up  Miss  Puryn's  name,  and,  inas- 
much as  I  am  convinced  that  Enid  has  listened  there 
before,  I  thought  I'd  take  the  chance  to-night  to  con- 
firm or  refute  my  deductions." 

"  Oh,  don't  explain  the  thing  to  me ! "  said  Julian, 
still  thoroughly  aroused.  "  I  am  sure  she  was  there 
the  very  night  of  my  birthday,  while  I  was  talking 
to  Iris.  I  am  equally  convinced  she  made  Iris  ill 
the  night  of  the  Comity  Ball.  But — Garrison — the 
whole  denouement  is  a  shock.  That  was  awful  for 
a  while ! " 

294 


AN  UNFINISHED  MISSION  295 

"  Yes,"  agreed  the  criminologist,  "  I  never  get 
used  to  a  scream  like  that,  and  I  fear  I  never  shall." 

Vail  gripped  him  tightly  by  the  arm. 

"Enid  had  no  connection  with  the  ruby? — the 
thefts  and  murders,  of  course?" 

"  Not  to  her  knowledge.  However,  that  part  of 
the  case  is  incomplete." 

"  You  don't  know  how  the  ruby  came  to  be  in 
Barbara's  shoe  ?  " 

"  I  am  not  sufficiently  certain  to  state  my  theories 
jet." 

"  But  at  least  she  is  innocent?  " 

Garrison  smiled. 

"  You  have  been  convinced  of  that  from  the  first 
— or  nearly  certain." 

"  Quite  certain — absolutely  sure — as  I've  told  you 
repeatedly." 

"  Yet  not  so  certain  that  you  felt  you  could  ac- 
quaint me  with  all  the  facts.  For  instance,  how  long 
have  you  known  of  the  secret  passage  from  the 
*  ruby  '  house  to  the  other?  " 

Vail  reddened. 

"  If  I  found  it  ahead  of  you,  I'm  not  so  slow." 

"  You  haven't  been  accused  of  being  slow,  but 
you're  not  precisely  what  I'd  call  communicative." 

"That  reminds  me,"  Julian  responded.  "What 
was  accomplished  to-day?  Did  you  get  the  men, 
or  the  woman?  " 

'*  The  woman,  yes.  The  men  escaped  over  the 
roof." 

"  And  what  about  the  trunk  I  saw  in  the  room?  " 


296          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

Garrison  replied  with  a  question. 

"  Do  you  happen  to  know  whose  it  is  ?  " 

"  I  imagine  we  both  know  it's  Miss  Lee's.  She  has 
been  without  it  all  these  days.  Where  is  it  now?  " 

"  It's  there.  We  left  it  for  a  bait.  I  halfway  ex- 
pect one  of  those  men,  if  not  the  pair,  to  return  to 
overhaul  it.  My  man  is  concealed  on  the  premises, 
to  sleep  there  and  eat  there  for  a  while,  in  case  they 
should  arrive." 

"  Is  he  armed?  " 

"  To  the  teeth." 

Vail  was  silent  for  a  moment,  and  Garrison  con- 
tinued. 

"  You  found  that  passage  the  day  you  and  I  were 
searching  the  '  ruby  '  house  together.  Had  you  told 
me  about  it  at  the  time,  we  might  have  made  much 
greater  progress.  Suppose  I  take  the  wheel  and  we 
ramble  through  the  Park,  while  you  post  me  on  all 
you  really  know?  " 

"  Right ! "  said  Vail,  and  he  and  Garrison  were 
presently  riding  in  the  forward  seat,  while  the  driver 
was  dismissed  for  the  night. 

"  Begin  at  the  first,"  said  the  criminologist,  "  and 
give  me  everything." 

Julian  obeyed.  He  related  every  minute  detail  in 
the  whole  affair,  dating  from  Barbara's  arrival  in 
the  box. 

His  narrative  concerning  the  night  at  Hackett 
Tides  was  absolutely  frank,  for  the  safety  of  the 
story  with  Garrison  was  certain,  and  established  Bar- 
bara's loyalty,  her  honesty  and  courage  beyond  the 


AN  UNFINISHED  MISSION  297 

shadow  of  a  doubt.  Concerning  the  girl's  abduction 
from  his  car  he  was  brief,  but  clear.  There  was 
nothing  withheld  about  the  drugging  of  his  tea,  his 
estimate  of  Lady  Kent,  or  the  revelations  made  by 
Sir  Hugh  Pearson.  He  kept  back  nothing,  save 
Barbara's  worry  about  the  trunk  and  the  papers  it 
might  contain. 

'  You  will  see  that  I  need  your  services  quite  as 
decidedly  now  as  before,"  he  finally  concluded.  "  The 
mystery  clinging  about  Miss  Lee  is  essentially  as 
dark  as  ever.  I  want  you  to  clear  her  of  the  ruby 
business  and  help  me  wrest  her  from  the  evil  influ- 
ence of  Lady  Kent,  this  fellow  '  Willard,'  and  every- 
one else  in  the  group.  And  that  reminds  me  to  ask, 
What  woman  was  it  you  captured  there  to-day?  " 

'The  one  called  Mrs.  Cree.  I  rather  fancy  it 
was  she  who  abducted  Miss  Lee  from  your  car." 

'  Then  she  shares  in  some  knowledge  that  all  of 
them  use  for  their  pressure  on  Barbara?" 

"  Undoubtedly.  Have  you  formed  any  theory  as 
to  what  it  may  be  that  gives  them  this  undue 
power?  " 

Julian  looked  at  him  peculiarly. 

"  I  haven't   exactly   cared   to   face I  have 

feared  my  ignorance — my  blundering With  you 

it's  different,  it's  business. — I  suppose  you've  formed 
an  hypothesis.     May  I  ask  you  what  it  is?  " 

"  Certainly — when  it's  proved." 

Julian  was  silent  for  a  moment. 

"  It  would  please  me  enormously,  Garrison,"  he 
said,  at  length,  "  to  hear  you  confirm  my  faith,  my 


298          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

conviction  that  the  little  girl — that  Miss  Lee  is — all 
I  believe." 

Garrison  reached  out  from  the  wheel  by  which 
he  guided  the  car  to  grip  his  companion's  shoulder. 

"  Haven't  I  sent  her  to  my  wife  ?  " 

"  Forgive  me,"  said  Vail.  "  I'm  an  ass  !  "  Again 
he  was  silent,  looking  out  across  the  placid  lawns 
and  through  the  motionless  trees  of  the  Park,  at 
the  stars  and  the  lamps  of  the  city.  They  were  pass- 
ing the  end  of  the  huge  Metropolitan  Gallery  of 
art,  and  on  their  left  rose  the  obelisk,  once  neigh- 
bored by  the  Sphinx. 

His  thought  had  reverted  to  the  note  lying  close 
to  his  heart.  He  could  not  keep  the  faith  that  Bar- 
bara expected  and  reveal  all  he  knew  of  her  trunk. 

"  Old  chap,"  he  presently  added,  "  I  want  you  to 
do  me  a  favor." 

"  It's  granted  already — if  it's  possible." 

"  I  want  you  to  let  me  go  to  that  house  and  watch 
with  your  man  for  those  chaps  to  come,  as  you  said, 
to  overhaul  the  trunk." 

Garrison  halted  a  query  that  rose  to  the  point  of 
his  tongue.  How  much  or  how  little  of  Julian's  pur- 
pose he  conjectured  was  not  to  be  revealed-  If  Vail 
still  chose  to  keep  him  in  the  dark,  he  meant  to  re- 
spect his  silence.  He  betrayed  no  curiosity. 

"  You  wouldn't  care  to  go  there  now — to-night  ?  " 

"  Well — I  don't  know  why  not — if  there's  any 
chance  at  all  for  your  visitors  to  come." 

"  There  isn't  a  chance,  I'm  sure,  or  I  shouldn't  be 
out  here  killing  time  while  I'm  waiting  for  someone 


AN  UNFINISHED  MISSION  299 

— but  that's  another  story.  Still,  if  you  feel  you 

cannot  sleep  in  any  other  dwelling You've  still 

got  your  gun  and  a  key  to  the  '  ruby  '  house.  There 
are  three  or  four  electric  torches  under  the  cushion 
of  your  seat. — But  it  may  be  the  fellows  care  nothing 
at  all  for  the  trunk,  and  your  wait  will  be  in  vain. 
I'm  inclined  to  believe  they  came  there  to-day  with 
you  as  their  ultimate  object." 

"  When  they  immediately  attacked  the  women  ?  " 

"  Suppose  they  had  carted  off  Miss  Lee  and  then 
she  had  written  you  to  come — would  you  have  re- 
fused? " 

"  I  shouldn't  exactly  have  dared,  if  I  thought " 

"  That's  about  the  way  they  figured.  The  trunk 
may  be  of  no  importance." 

"  I  think  I'll  go  there,  nevertheless,"  said  Julian. 
"  I  take  it  you  would  advise  me  to  enter  again  by 
the  ruby  house  and  passage.  What  shall  I  do  by 
way  of  signaling  your  man  to  avoid  a  collision  with 
his  weapons?  " 

"  Knock  on  the  panel  before  you  press  it  open 
and  call  out,  *  Nettleton ! '  Don't  call  too  loud.  He's 
to  camp  in  that  room,  with  alarms  to  all  windows  and 
doors.  To-morrow  two  more  will  be  with  him.  He'll 
be  glad  of  your  company  to-night,  for  I  fancy  the 
waiting  will  be  dull.  I'll  take  you  part  way  down 
there  and  let  you  continue  by  yourself." 

He  swung  from  the  Park  to  the  Avenue  and  was 
soon  speeding  down  the  town.  At  ten  o'clock  Vail 
was  standing,  alone,  at  the  door  of  the  house  already 
held  in  superstitious  dread. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI 

i> 

A   FIGHT   IN    THE    DAEK 

FOR   the   third    time    Julian    faced   the   secret 
passage. 

There  was  absolute  silence  and  absolute  darkness 
throughout  the  premises  where  so  much  that  was  fate- 
ful had  already  had  its  setting.  Not  a  soul  had  he 
seen  in  the  thoroughfare  when  he  made  his  entrance 
to  the  house.  Every  sound  he  created  was  like  another 
presence,  as  it  echoed  through  the  empty  spaces. 

With  his  pistol  in  one  hand  and  torch  in  the  other, 
he  was  presently  moving  forward  in  the  underground 
corridor,  alert  for  the  slightest  disturbance  or  un- 
usual feature  of  the  place, 

He  came  to  the  end  of  the  passage  duly  convinced 
that  so  far  all  was  the  plainest  sailing.  Then  his 
feet  encountered  something  on  the  floor  that  emitted 
a  crackling  sound.  The  light  was  immediately  turned 
in  that  direction. 

What  he  saw  was  a  litter  of  shavings,  or  the  bor- 
ings of  an  auger,  strewn  at  the  foot  of  the  stairs. 
About  to  ignore  them  and  ascend  the  steps,  with  the 
thought  they  had  doubtless  been  there  many  years, 
he  was  halted  by  a  mental  insistence  that  they  were 
clean  and  freshly  made. 

300 


A  FIGHT  IN  THE  DARK  301 

It  was  clear  they  could  hardly  have  been  trans- 
ported far.  He  swung  his  torch  about  the  wall,  dis- 
covering nothing  for  a  moment,  till  he  moved  fairly 
under  the  stairs.  There  he  found  indications  of 
very  recent  work.  Not  only  was  the  floor  well  cov- 
ered by  fresh  yellow  borings  from  pine,  but  the  lines 
of  holes  from  which  the  chips  had  fallen  were  there 
before  his  eyes. 

They  had  all  been  driven  through  the  planks  that 
formed  the  wall  of  the  passage,  and  each  was 
plugged  with  a  cork.  They  .had  plainly  been  made 
to  cut  a  narrow  door,  or  trap,  to  some  cellar  beyond, 
the  opening  formed  having  been  closed  fairly  tight 
by  wedging  the  piece  to  its  place. 

Vail  was  curious.  He  wondered  not  only  who 
had  cut  the  orifice  in  such  a  laborious  manner, 
but  likewise  where  it  led.  Slipping  his  gun  in 
his  pocket,  he  pulled  out  the  wedges,  making  no 
sound,  and  the  pjank  door  slipped  forth  in  his 
hand. 

Instantly  a  gush  of  chilly  air,  with  a  powerful 
smell  of  gas,  sent  him  backward  from  the  place. 
What  light  he  could  flash  through  the  opening  met 
impenetrable  gloom.  Convinced  that  someone  had 
cut  the  hole  for  a  second  entrance  to  the  house,  and 
reflecting  that  Nettleton  might  have  provided  this 
means  of  ingress  and  egress,  to  avoid  the  panel 
above,  he  retreated  once  more  to  the  stairway  and 
proceeded  on  his  way. 

From  the  hole  left  open  no  smells  arose  to  the 
better  air  above,  for  the  reason  that  cold  air  falls. 


302          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

He  was  therefore  unaware  that  a  stifling  volume  of 
liberated  gas  was  rolling  forth  in  the  passage,  drawn 
by  a  draught  through  the  trap. 

Despite  his  utmost  efforts  at  ascending  without  a 
sound,  the  stairway  emitted  a  few  faint  creaks  that 
frequently  halted  him  to  listen.  It  was  not  that  he 
feared  a  possible  attack  from  the  house  of  iron  men, 
but  rather  that  he  felt  no  sense  of  assurance  he  might 
not  be  followed  from  the  rear. 

But  silence  so  deep  that  it  rang  in  his  ears  pos- 
sessed the  premises.  Once  more  he  climbed  carefully 
upward,  his  revolver  as  before  in  his  hand.  Then 
he  met  another  surprise  in  the  form  of  a  draught 
lightly  blowing  in  his  face.  He  had  scarcely  more 
than  observed  this  fact  when  he  came  to  the  head 
of  the  spiral  stairs  and  paused  with  a  sense  of 
apprehension. 

The  panel  was  fastened  open  by  a  file,  rammed  into 
the  sill. 

Beyond  utter  silence  reigned,  in  a  chamber  of 
velvety  blackness.  The  flash  of  his  torch  dis- 
pelled a  few  feet  only  of  the  gloom,  revealing  not 
a  thing  upon  the  floor,  for  as  far  as  he  could 
see. 

Wholly  uncertain  as  to  what  this  unexpected 
development  might  signify,  and  with  plans  quite  de- 
ranged, Vail  remained  undecided  as  to  what  he  were 
wise  to  do.  About  to  deliver  a  knock  on  the  door 
and  call  on  Garrison's  man,  as  previously  directed, 
he  caught  at  a  sound  from  within  the  house  that 
altered  his  decision. 


A  FIGHT  IN  THE  DARK  303 

The  sound  was  as  of  something  violently  broken 
from  its  hold — a  snap  of  steel  and  a  rending  of 
brittle  wood. 

He  waited,  straining  his  ears  for  sounds  to  fol- 
low. Something  lightly  banged  against  a  distant 
wall.  Then  came  a  succession  of  lighter  noises,  as 
of  things  being  tossed  on  the  floor. 

Julian  entered  the  room.  A  hint  that  roused  his 
indignation  had  flashed  on  his  mind,  and  a  species 
of  recklessness  anger  possessed  his  being. 

Feeling  his  way  along  the  wall,  with  his  torch  kept 
dark  for  greater  caution,  he  came  to  the  door, 
emerged  in  the  hall,  and  once  more  paused  as  a  dull 
ray  of  light  streamed  out  from  the  armory  be- 
yond. 

More  sounds  of  parcels  flung  about  on  the  floor 
added  fuel  to  his  temper.  Then,  as  he  glided  down 
the  hall,  towards  the  room  of  iron  men,  a  human 
voice  abruptly  uttered  some  sound  of  satisfaction. 

Julian  was  almost  instantly  at  the  door.  What 
he  saw  made  his  blood  fairly  boil. 

Kneeling  alone  by  Barbara's  trunk,  the  lid  of 
which  had  been  forced,  was  the  evil-looking  little 
"  Scratch,"  with  a  torch  in  one  hand,  while  the  other 
held  a  large  stained  envelope,  secured  with  tape  and 
sealed. 

He  had  found  the  secret  recess  of  the  box,  and 
Barbara's  fate  was  in  his  hands. 

Julian  lowered  his  revolver. 

"  Hands  up !  "  he  ordered.  "  Hands  up,  or  I'll 
kill  you  on  the  spot !  " 


304          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

There  was  just  one  muttered  curse  from 
"  Scratch,"  then  his  torch  was  instantly  dark. 

He  was  scrambling  actively  to  his  feet,  when  Vail 
plunged  forward  to  get  him. 

He  made  no  attempt  to  shoot,  in  the  dark,  as  he 
thought  of  the  door  to  another  room  through  which 
his  quarry  might  escape.  But  the  burglar  promptly 
fired. 

With  a  leap  of  red  flame  and  a  deafening  roar  his 
bullet  sped  close  to  Julian's  ear  before  they  met  by 
the  table. 

The  two  were  instantly  locked  and  wrestling  wildly 
about  the  room,  on  which  absolute  darkness  had 
descended. 

There  was  no  more  chance  for  a  shot  on  either 
side.  If  Vail  was  powerful  and  as  relentless  as  a 
tiger,  "  Scratch  "  was  no  less  active,  desperate,  or 
deadly. 

He  thrashed  like  a  engine,  gouged  like  a  badger, 
and  struck  with  his  gun  now  held  as  a  club.  He 
was  wiry,  as  hard  and  stiff  as  a  pair  of  tongs,  as 
furious  and  unmanageable  as  a  wildcat. 

Over  against  the  table  they  were  immediately 
hurled,  then  as  hotly  against  the  trunk  and  out  on  the 
floor  in  a  whirlwind  of  fighting,  where  neither  could 
see  the  slightest  thing,  but  must  feel  as  he  grappled 
with  his  foe. 

Except  for  the  hard  percussions  of  their  breath, 
the  scuffle  of  feet,  and  the  thud  of  flesh  on  flesh,  no 
sounds  were  made.  Not  a  note  escaped  assailant  or 
assailed. 


A  FIGHT  IN  THE  DARK  305 

In  the  mad  melee  of  action  they  were  hurled  en- 
tirely across  the  room,  and  knocked  down  an  iron 
man.  Then  backward  and  forward  over  its  form 
they  stumbled  and  fought.  A  second  armor  came 
crashing  down,  to  encumber  the  floor  and  sound  its 
metallic  protest,  where  they  struck  it  with  their 
feet. 

The  table  was  driven  hotly  to  the  wall.  The  bun- 
dles thrown  from  Barbara's  trunk  were  kicked  in  all 
directions. 

The  burglar,  grappled  a  dozen  times,  squirmed 
loose  like  a  human  eel.  He  struck  with  his  gun,  and 
beat  Vail's  arm  and  shoulder. 

Julian,  versed  in  a  finer  art  of  wrestling,  was 
handicapped  doubly  by  the  darkness  of  the  place  and 
the  wild,  vicious  creature  with  whom  he  attempted  to 
close. 

No  hold  was  secure  for  half  a  minute,  no  effort 
to  choke  the  maniacal  "  Scratch,"  or  lift  him  bodily 
up  and  crash  him  down,  availed  to  end  the  struggle. 

Around  and  around  the  room  they  gyrated,  stum- 
bling across  the  prostrate  iron  figures,  colliding  with 
the  walls,  blocking  each  other's  efforts  to  deliver  a 
telling  blow. 

Vail  was  attempting  to  choke  or  crush  the  active 
little  demon  eluding  the  strength  of  his  hands. 
"  Scratch,"  on  the  contrary,  beat  at  his  foe  if  his 
arm  were  free  but  half  a  second. 

And  at  length  he  landed  a  glancing  blow  that 
nearly  broke  Julian's  skull.  It  caught  him  just 
above  the  ear  and  inflicted  an  ugly  wound.  But  it 


306          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

served  to  arouse  such  a  mighty  wrath  as  nothing 
could  safely  withstand. 

Blindly,  without  either  thought  or  "  science,"  Vail 
delivered  a  short-arm  uppercut  with  all  the  might  in 
his  muscles.  By  the  merest  chance  it  caught  his  man 
on  the  vulnerable  point  of  the  chin. 

In  the  darkness  it  felt  as  if  a  thing  of  clay  had 
weakened  to  collapse.  It  sounded  as  if  a  bundle  of 
rags  went  heavily  down  to  the  floor. 

Julian  permitted  his  grip  to  relax  as  his  foe 
abruptly  wilted.  The  gun  had  fallen  before  its 
owner  slumped.  It  bounded  against  the  iron  plates 
that  had  once  clothed  a  warrior's  breast. 

Pantingly  crouched  above  the  man  he  could  now 
no  longer  hear  even  breathing,  Julian  presently 
lighted  a  match  and  blinked  at  the  figure  at  his 
feet. 

"  Scratch "  was  unconscious,  a  white,  crumpled 
bundle  that  barely  quivered  with  life.  Twisted  awry 
the  two  armored  figures  lay,  no  more  silent  or  use- 
less than  the  man.  The  light  dully  gleamed  from 
the  rusted  gun  which  the  'thief  had  used  in  his 
battle. 

Vail  caught  it  up  without  further  delay,  then 
went  back  to  his  torch,  which  lay  where  his  fingers 
had  released  it. 

Like  a  huge  round  target  of  yellow  gleamed  the 
light  he  threw  about  the  room.  It  fell  upon  the  en- 
velope that  "  Scratch "  had  dropped  in  the  fight. 
Vail  promptly  thrust  it  in  his  pocket. 

Once  more  he  returned  to  the  prostrate  man,  lying 


A  FIGHT  IN  THE  DARK  307 

like  one  on  a  battlefield  of  old,  with  steel-clad 
knights  about  him.  He  made  no  movement  what- 
soever. 

Aware  that  water  and  fresher  air  were  highly  es- 
sential to  the  fellow's  recovery,  and  taking  time  at 
last  to  worry  concerning  Garrison's  assistant,  Julian 
raised  his  voice. 

"  Nettleton ! "  he  shouted.  His  voice  echoed 
weirdly  through  the  silent  place.  Reflecting  that  the 
shot  must  have  roused  any  watchman  in  or  about  the 
place,  he  hurried  to  the  panel  room,  to  cast  his  light 
upon  its  features. 

There  was  nothing  here,  save  the  door  still  fas- 
tened opened,  to  indicate  anything  suspicious.  Back 
to  the  hall  and  down  to  the  lower  rooms  he  hastened 
to  make  a  wider  search. 

A  sense  of  weakness,  resulting  from  the  cut  on  the 
side  of  his  head,  oppressed  him  slightly.  Deter- 
mined to  go  at  once  to  the  man  up  above,  revive  him, 
and  make  him  prisoner,  then  compel  him  to  answer 
for  Garrison's  assistant,  he  returned  once  more  to 
the  armory — and  blankly  gazed  about  in  the  target 
of  his  torch. 

The  man  he  had  fought  was  gone. 

A  quick  reconnoiter  of  the  room,  with  his  torch- 
light thrown  even  back  of  the  forms  in  armor  along 
their  stand  convinced  him  the  fellow  must  have  fled 
to  another  apartment.  But  the  room  with  the  panel 
told  the  tale,  for  the  panel  was  not  only  closed  again, 
but  someway  fastened  on  the  stairway  side,  as  Julian 
guessed,  with  the  file. 


308          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

Then  he  thought  again  of  that  hole  below  and  the 
smell  of  gas  from  the  cellar.  The  whole  situation 
was  dimly  presented  to  his  throbbing  mind.  He  ran 
for  the  stairway  and  down  to  the  hall  to  the  regular 
entrance  to  the  basement. 

The  cellar,  like  the  rooms  above,  was  cut  into 
halls  and  divisions.  He  hastened  from  one  to  the 
other  and  was  presented  guided  to  a  heavy  door, 
where  a  smell  of  gas  hung  in  the  air. 

This  barrier  swung  inward,  heavily,  lifting  weights 
that  would  close  it  when  released.  It  was  no  more 
than  barely  opened  than  a  rush  of  poisonous  fume 
escaped  that  drove  Vail  reeling  from  the  place.  He 
was  back  there  immediately,  however,  dragging  a 
box,  half -filled  with  dusty  coal,  to  prop  the  door  back 
from  the  frame. 

Then,  with  the  gas  reek  flowing  thickly  forth,  as 
the  draught  from  the  hole  he  had  opened  changed 
its  course,  he  threw  in  the  rays  from  his  glowing 
torch  and  beheld  his  man  lying  on  the  floor. 

It  was  Nettleton,  lured  to  the  deadly  place  by  some 
sound,  or  the  odor  of  gas.  He  was  barely  alive  and 
had  only  been  saved  by  the  entrance  of  air  through 
the  opening  Vail  had  supplied  when  he  drew  the 
newly  made  trap  from  its  place  behind  the  spiral 
stairs. 

Filling  his  lungs  with  the  purer  air,  Julian 
plunged  in  the  chamber,  laid  hold  of  the  helpless  Net- 
tleton, and  dragged  him  bodily  forth. 

Still  unaware  of  the  fact  that  he  was  bleeding,  and 
attributing  his  sense  of  weakness  to  the  impure  air, 


309 

Vail  strained  and  toiled  to  get  the  unconscious  form 
to  the  hallway  up  above. 

How  he  finally  managed  to  boost  and  drag  the  in- 
ert figure  to  the  outside  door  and  slip  the  lock  was 
more  than  Vail  could  have  told.  Later  it  seemed 
like  some  hideous  nightmare,  some  horrid  imagining 
that  all  his  strength  was  abruptly  sapped,  while  his 
work  was  half-done  and  was  far  too  vast  for  human 
attainment. 

Nevertheless,  in  his  persistency. he  tugged  the  man 
through  the  vestibule  and  so  to  the  outer  air.  Then 
at  last  he  collapsed,  as  inertly  as  the  form  he  had 
brought  from  the  tomb  of  death.  While  Nettleton 
lay  at  the  top  of  the  steps,  Julian  rolled  to  the 
bottom. 


CHAPTER  XXXVII 

AN    HOUR   OF    BECKONING 

VAIL  awoke  in  his  own  apartments,  possessed  of 
a  tissue  of  dreams. 

A  nurse  was  seated  at  his  table,  and  a  tall,  gray- 
haired  physician  stood  idly  looking  out  at  the  win- 
dow. 

Julian  made  no  sound.  He  blinked  at  the  two  in 
puzzlement,  recalling  some  hazy,  fantastic  procession 
of  events  wherein  a  number  of  red-faced  policemen, 
Jerold  Garrison,  fights,  and  the  labor  with  Nettleton 
were  confusedly  intermixed. 

Then  the  actual  facts  of  the  previous  night  came 
back  like  the  echoes  of  the  voice,  with  a  sense  of 
truth  and  conviction.  He  remembered  it  all,  the 
furious  battle  with  his  unseen  foe,  the  clatter  of 
falling  iron  armor — and  the  object  of  his  visit  to 
the  house. 

At  that  he  sat  up  suddenly,  and  felt  a  sharp  pain 
in  his  head.  The  nurse  was  startled. 

"  Oh,  I  wouldn't  do  that !  I  wouldn't  attempt  to 
sit  up,"  she  said,  arising  to  come  to  his  side.  "  Doc- 
tor, Mr.  Vail's  awake." 

"  Doctor?  "  said  Vail,  as  the  man  at  the  window 
turned.  "  Oh,  Dale,  hello !  What's  the  meaning  of 

310 


AN  HOUR  OF  RECKONING  311 

this? — this  fuss  and  feathers  and  the  rest?     Where 
are  my  clothes  ?  " 

"  Well,  well,"  said  Dale,  coming  swiftly  to  the 
bed.  "  It's  about  as  I  expected — more  mere  physical 
exhaustion  and  lack  of  proper  rest  than  anything 
requiring  my  attentions.  How's  the  head?" 

"  Head?  "  said  Vail.  "  I  didn't  know  I  had  one— 
a  bad  one,  I  mean.  Did  I  get  a  little  cut?  " 

"  Do  you  mean  to  say  you  don't  remember " 

"  Hold  on,"  Vail  interrupted.     "  I  don't  need  3 

nurse,  and  I  do  want  my  clothes,  and I  beg; 

your  pardon,  Dale,  for  interrupting,  but  I'm  anxious 

to  know Will  you  tell  me  how  I  come  to  be  in 

these  rooms  ?  " 

Dale  made  a  gesture  to  the  nurse.  She  brought 
the  clothes  that  Vail  had  worn  and  laid  them  on  a 
chair.  Then  she  quietly  left  the  apartment. 

Dale  brought  the  garments  across  to  the  bed  and 
held  up  the  coat  by  the  collar. 

"  Will  you  tell  me  first  how  you  could  bleed  like 
that  and  never  be  the  wiser?  I  say  you  were  struck 
with  a  gun." 

"  I  was,  but " 

"  Thank  you,  my  son.  I  knew  I  was  right  from 
the  start.  Now,  then,  they  found  you  half-dead  on 
the  street,  and  there  you  were  arrested.  That's  the 
rule  with  the  New  York  police.  When  a  man's  dead, 
or  near  it,  lock  him  up.  The  other  man  they  sent  to 
the  hospital  because,  by  great  good-fortune,  he 
smelled  of  gas  instead  of  gasoline." 

"  Nettleton,  yes,  I  remember."     Julian  flung  off 


312          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

the  bedding  and  rested  his  feet  on  the  floor.     "  How 
did  I  get  here  after  that?" 

"  The  precinct  sergeant  telephoned  to  Garrison, 
at  last,  and  he  ordered  you  home,  like  the  sensible 
person  that  he  is.  In  fact,  he  brought  you  here  him- 
self and  told  me  to  'phone " 

"  What  time  of  the  morning  is  it  now?  " 

"  It's  nearly  ten." 

"  Good  Lord !    Do  you  mean  to  say  I've  slept " 

He   had   risen   promptly   and   caught   up   his   coat 
to  swing  it  around  and  search  the  pocket. 

The  envelope  was  gone. 

He  stared  at  the  doctor  blankly.  A  sickening  sen- 
sation made  everything  swim  before  his  eyes. 

"  Lie  down !  Lie  down — there !  by  the  Lord 
Harry ! "  said  Dale,  impatiently,  noting  the  changed 
expression  of  his  patient's  face.  "  You  are  really 
hurt,  after  all!" 

"  Hurt  ? "  repeated  Julian,  abruptly  convinced 
that  while  he  lay  half -dead  the  man  he  had  fought 
had  come  again  and  taken  the  papers  from  his  coat. 
"  Look  here,  who  pulled  off  my  duds?  " 

"  I  did,"  said  Dale,     "  I  was  here  when  they  car- 
ried you  in." 
*     "  Did  anything  fall  from  my  pockets  ?  " 

"  Certainly  not.  Do  you  think  I  had  nothing  bet- 
ter to  do  than  invert  your  gory  garments  ?  " 

Vail  could  have  groaned,  till  he  thought  of  the 
criminologist,  who  might  have  taken  care  of  the 
papers. 

"  Here,  Dale,   call   up  Garrison,"  he  instructed, 


AN  HOUR  OF  RECKONING  313 

"  while  I'm  taking  a  splash  and  putting  on  some 
duds.  Tell  him  to  get  to  my  office  as  quickly  as  he 
can." 

"  But,  my  dear  Julian " 

"  Yes,  I  know,"  said  Vail.  "  You  brought  me  into 
the  world  and  all  the  rest.  Will  you  please  do  as 
much  for  the  telephone?  After  Garrison,  order  up 
some  coffee,  fruit,  and  rolls.  I  can  breakfast  while 
I'm  dressing." 

He  dived  at  once  into  the  bathroom,  loaded  with 
garments,  hastily  snatched  for  his  use.  The  door  re- 
mained wide  open  as  the  doctor  obeyed  directions. 

"Hello!"  that  gentleman  presently  called,  when 
the  number  had  finally  been  given.  "  Garrison's  of- 
fice? Hello!  .  .  .  Yes.  Mr.  Vail  ...  .  .  I  don't 
want  you — I  want  your  chief.  I  want  .  .  .  What's 
that?  Not  in?  You're  sure  of  that,  young  man? 
You're  .  .  ,.  Then  when  is  he  going  to  be 
in?" 

Julian  thrust  his  head  from  behind  the  door.  "  Not 
in?  But  where •" 

The  physician  looked  across  from  the  desk. 

"  They  don't  know  where  he's  gone." 

'  Tell  them  to  send  him  straight  to  me  the  min- 
ute he  returns ! " 

The  message  was  sent. 

Portions  of  Vail  and  a  towel  appeared  as  before. 

"  Order  up  the  coffee  and  rolls.  And  tell  them 
five  minutes  is  the  limit  I  can  wait !  " 

The  breakfast  was  soon  on  the  way.  Vail  was 
half-dressed  and  moving  like  a  freshly  oiled  machine 


314          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

when  the  telephone  bell  jangled  sharply.  He  ran 
to  snatch  up  the  receiver. 

"  Hello  !  hello  ! — is  that  you,  Garrison?  "  he  called. 
..."  Oh,  Broughton.  Well?  .  .  .  Gardner?  .  .  . 
Trying  to  cover — trying  to  buy?  .  .  .  No.  Let  it 
alone.  I'll  be  down  there  in  fifteen  minutes — and  fin- 
ish him  up  by  noon !  " 

"  Young  man,"  said  Dale,  "  I'm  going  home.  I'm 
no  longer  a  doctor — I'm  a  valet." 

"  God  bless  you,"  said  Vail,  "  you're  a  trump.  I 
beg  your  pardon,  dear  old  friend,  but  I've  lost  a  lot 
of  time.  However,  you  never  misunderstand." 

He  had  flung  off  his  bandage,  discovered  two 
stitches  sewn  in  his  scalp,  and  now  greeted  his  waiter 
with  the  breakfast. 

The  physician  held  out  his  hand. 

"  You  are  doctor-proof,"  he  said,  with  a  smile. 
"  I  have  always  said  your  health  and  strength  are 
incurable,  in  spite  of  all  medical  attacks.  I'll  drop 
in  to  see  you  later  on." 

When  he  had  gone,  and  Julian  rose  from  his  hasty 
meal,  to  crowd  on  his  hat  and  run  to  the  taxicab 
ordered  by  the  office,  the  throb  and  ache  in  the  wound 
on  his  skull  brought  him  down  to  a  sensible  walk. 

It  was  only  because  of  the  greater  worry,  concern- 
ing the  papers  found  and  lost,  that  his  physical  pains 
were  ignored.  And  the  news  from  his  office  that 
Gardner  was  thus  soon  attempting  to  cover  his  short- 
age on  B.  &  K.  C.  R.  R.,  excited  new  zest  in  his  fight- 
ing blood  to  make  him  forget  himself. 

The   "  Curb "    and   Exchanges   had   barely   been 


AN  HOUR  OF  RECKONING  315 

opened  an  hour  when  Julian's  orders,  telephoned  and 
wired,  began  to  be  felt  in  those  Wall  Street  pulses 
that  may  quicken  or  creep  at  a  whisper. 

They  quickened  that  day,  which  was  not  to  be  soon 
forgotten.  Gardner  and  all  of  his  railroad  group, 
who  had  busied  themselves  every  hour  of  the  day  for 
more  than  a  week  to  ruin  Vail,  were  stricken  with 
panic  by  noon.  They  had  "  shorted  "  on  B.  &  K.  C. 
R.  R.  till  it  had  seemed  to  be  fading  from  the  list. 
They  had  hammered  it  down  and  chopped  it  down 
and  sold  it  down  to  a  finish — or  so  they  blindly  be- 
lieved. Now  the  reckoning  hour  was  at  hand. 

Some  mere  inside  rumor  that  Vail  and  his  loyal 
supporters  had  fed  out  their  stock  and  loaned  their 
stock  to  make  this  selling  possible,  and  now  in  con- 
trol of  both  long  and  short  accumulations,  were 
about  to  demand  the  return  of  all  said  loans,  leaving 
no  stock  whatever  in  the  market,  induced  the  early 
efforts  of  some  of  the  weaklings  to  cover.  These 
were  the  traitors  to  Gardner,  smaller,  frightened 
bears,  who  felt  they  had  played  it  sufficiently  far 
and  would  quietly  take  out  their  profits. 

These  profits,  like  many  in  the  Wall  Street  game, 
were  unfortunately  all  on  paper.  The  awakening 
came  with  a  shock. 

There  was  not  a  share  to  be  had  in  the  world  of 
B.  &  K.  C.  R.  R. ! 

It  was  all  in  the  hands  of  Vail  and  his  crowd,  who 
proceeded  to  put  on  the  screws. 

The  larger  alarm  began  about  eleven  in  the  morn- 
ing. The  panic  quickened,  heightened,  and  screamed 


316          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

through  the  lofty  canons  in  Broad  Street  and  busy 
Exchange  Place  when  the  truth  became  bruited 
about. 

After  that  it  was  one  mad  scramble  for  any  stock 
at  all,  with  Gardner  the  wildest  bear  in  the  ring. 
And  Vail,  at  his  desk,  with  the  telephone  in  hand, 
dictated  fates  and  money  destinies  and  who  should 
be  spared  and  who  ruined. 

They  were  begging  at  last — imploring  his  mercy 
— a  chance  to  get  out  with  their  lives.  They  had 
digged  them  a  pit  and  fallen  in  and  were  shrieking 
mightily  for  help. 

In  the  money  pandemonium,  at  length  extending  to 
some  of  the  banks  allied  with  the  Gardner  interests, 
giants  of  finance  were  at  last  on  their  knees,  be- 
seeching a  let-up  of  the  squeezing.  Then  Vail,  with 
his  hand  at  the  lever  of  control,  made  the  terms 
when  he  wearied  of  his  power. 

It  was  fairly  appalling,  even  then,  to  many  who 
had  gone  to  Gardner's  camp.  As  for  Gardner  him- 
self, the  price  he  paid  laid  him  prostrate  at  the  scorn- 
ful feet  of  the  man  he  would  have  ruined. 

It  was  over  at  one — all  except  the  groaning — and 
Julian  paused  at  last  to  bethink  him  of  a  lunch. 

In  the  press  of  affairs  he  had  taken  no  time  to 
think  of  himself,  or  even  of  Barbara.  No  word  had 
come  from  Garrison,  whom  he  once  more  called  on 
the  telephone,  without  results. 

Broughton,  who  alone  of  his  force  had  been  de- 
tained beside  his  chief,  by  special  order,  arose  at  last 
with  a  satisfied  smile  and  took  up  his  mass  of  pagers. 


AN  HOUR  OF  RECKONING  317 

"  This  just  about  closes  the  volume,"  he  said,  "  so 
far  as  Gardner  is  concerned.  Ever  since  that  case 
came  into  the  office,  Mr.  Vail,  I  have  felt  it  was 
he  you'd  have  to  fight."  He  nodded  towards  the 
monster  box  in  which  Barbara  had  arrived. 

Julian  looked  at  it  indulgently. 

"  I  think  it  brought  us  luck — some  kinds  of  luck, 
at  least.  I  suppose  it's  time  to  have  it  carted  away. 
You  might  just  screw  the  cover  on  it  lightly  and  I'll 
think  where  it  had  better  be  sent."  He  arose  and 
put  on  his  hat.  "  I'll  be  over  at  Del's  for  a  snack 
to  eat,  if  anyone  calls  while  I'm  out." 

"  You're  coming  back  again  ?  " 

"  I'll  be  back " 

He  was  interrupted  by  the  telephone,  which 
Broughton  answered. 

"  It's  Garrison's  clerk,"  he  said,  a  minute  later. 
"  Mr.  Garrison's  coming  here  at  two,  if  you'll  be 
in." 

"  Sharp  two,"  said  Vail,  who  was  swiftly  forget- 
ting the  morning's  work  as  his  thoughts  of  Bar- 
bara's documents,  the  ruby  still  in  his  vase,  and  a 
score  of  kindred  subjects  came  rushing  back  to  his 
brain,  and  then  he  went,  while  Broughton  disap- 
peared with  his  papers. 

On  the  stroke  of  two  by  the  monster  bell  in  the 
Metropolitan  tower,  Vail  discovered  his  private  door 
ajar  as  he  came  once  more  to  his  office.  He  thought 
at  once  of  Garrison,  but  no  one  was  there  in  the 
place.  Beyond  the  fact  the  big  cardboard  case  had 
its  cover  lightly  held  in  place,  there  was  nothing  to 


318          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

show  that  a  living  soul  had  entered  the  room  in  his 
absence. 

He  was  busied  for  fifteen  minutes,  and  no  Garri- 
son appeared.  He  caught  up  the  telephone  and  had 
only  secured  the  criminologist's  office  when  a  well- 
known  knock  was  sounded  on  the  door. 

Then,  in  response  to  his  summons  to  enter,  ap- 
peared not  only  Garrison,  but  also  a  big,  alarmed- 
looking  person,  at  whom  Vail  stared  in  surprise. 

It  was  he  whom  he  knew  as  "  Willard  " — the  man 
with  the  brick-red  hair. 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII 

THE    SACRED    RUBY'S    SLAVE 

THAT  the  big  red-headed  being  was  not  only  act- 
ing under  compulsion,  but  was  likewise  fright- 
ened to  his  marrow,  Vail  was  promptly  made  aware. 

Garrison  desired  his  captive  to  sit  in  the  strongest 
light,  and  ordered  him  there  as  he  might  have  di- 
rected an  animal  whose  intelligence  had  been  scat- 
tered by  alarm. 

"  Mr.  Vail,"  he  said,  "  permit  me  to  make  you  ac- 
quainted with  Mr.  Willard  Abbey,  of  endless  aliases, 
once  the  framework  of  an  English  gentleman,  and 
now  a  near-criminal,  begging  for  mercy.  He  has 
come,  partly  by  his  own  inclination,  and  partly  by 
mine,  to  unburden  his  mind  of  a  few  confessions  and 
to  beg  for  his  precious  life." 

Julian  studied  Mr.  Abbey  attentively,  the  while 
that  ex-gentleman  fidgeted  in  awkward  guilt,  shift- 
ing his  eyes  and  the  hat  he  held  in  his  hands. 

A  vague  apprehension  crept  to  Julian's  mind,  at 
thoughts  of  what  might  presently  be  revealed  con- 
cerning the  fellow's  relationship  with  the  girl  at 
Garrison's  home.  Yet  he  faced  the  situation  grimly, 
aware  he  must  probe  it  to  the  end. 

"  It's  a  pleasure  to  see  you — in  good  tight  quar- 
ters, Mr.  Abbey,"  he  said.  "  You  are  doubtless 

319 


320  THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

ready  to  admit  I  have  seen  you  before  on  at  least  two 
notable  occasions." 

Abbey's  alarm  arose  from  facts  far  more  vital  than 
Julian  suspected.  In  seeking  for  Garrison,  and  in- 
cidentally arrest,  he  had  chosen  the  lesser  of  two 
evil  fates  by  which  he  was  confronted. 

"  I'll  admit  that,  certainly,  Mr.  Vail,"  he  answered, 
in  a  treble  voice  that  ridiculed  his  size.  "  But  I  hope, 
Mr.  Vail " 

"  It's  a  little  premature  to  begin  with  your  hopes," 
said  Garrison,  interrupting.  "  I  wish  you  to  state 
to  Mr.  Vail  your  entire  connection  with  the  affair  in- 
volving Miss  Lee,  the  murdered  Maharajah,  the  Ga- 
tama  ruby,  and  all  the  subsequent  events." 

Abbey  settled  further  in  his  chair. 

"Does  Mr.  Vail  know  how  it  started?" 

"  He  knows  that  a  certain  lady  here  in  New  York 
set  the  original  atrocity  in  motion.  You  may  ignore 
that  portion  of  the  story  and  make  the  statement 
suggested." 

"  I  was  broke,"  began  Mr.  Abbey,  obediently, 
"  and  I  happened  to  think  of  Madame  Starlight, 
and  called  to  see  her  one  Saturday  afternoon.  Miss 
Puryn  was  there  at  the  time.  She  departed  directly. 
Starlight  made  me  unusually  welcome  and  said  she 
needed  some  unknown  young  woman  to  send  to  a 
man  for  a  birthday  gift,  and  wanted  to  know  if  I 
had  any  such  in  mind." 

Garrison  inquired,  "  Did  she  not  also  add  that  a 
parentless  and  friendless  victim,  from  out  of  town, 
would  be  particularly  acceptable?  " 


THE  SACRED  RUBY'S  SLAVE 

"  Probably,"  was  Abbey's  admission.    "  As  it  hap- 
pened I  had  long  known  Miss  Lee I  say,  there's 

nothing  new  in  this,  you  know.    If  Mr.  Vail's  already 
informed  of  this  business,  I  would  take  it  as  a  fa- 


vor- 


"  Get  on  ! "  said  Vail. 

"  I  will,  Mr.  Vail,  certainly.  Well,  as  I  was  say- 
ing, I  mentioned  Miss  Lee  as  one  to  fill  the  bill,  and 
Mrs.  Cree,  as  a  friend  of  mine,  so  Starlight  got  her 
down  here,  as  you  know,  and  had  Cree  take  her  di- 
rectly to  the  house  you're  both  informed  of,  which 
was  formerly  my  uncle's — he  having  married  here, 
you  know,  and  his  hobby  being  armor  and  all  that 
sort  of  rot — and  then  I  made  the  mistake  of  procur- 
ing the  services  of  Lawbit,  Scratch  Parkinson,  and 
others,  who  mixed  us  all  up  in  the  murder  and  the 
ruby  theft,  and  all  the  rest  of  the  mess.  And  about 
that  ruby,  Mr.  Vail " 

"We'll  come  to  that  in  time,"  was  Garrison's 
interruption.  "After  Miss  Lee  was  landed  in  the 
house  of  armor,  what  was  the  next  development?" 

"  She  was  doped  and  kept  in  cold  storage  till " 

"By  heavens!"  Vail  ejaculated,  angrily,  "I've 
a  notion  right  now " 

"  Let's  go  on,"  requested  the  criminologist,  quietly. 
"  You  then  received  the  box  from  Epsilon,  destroyed 
the  tree  that  was  ordered,  substituted  the  friendless 
Miss  Lee,  and  delivered  her  here.  But  how,  when, 
and  where  was  the  ruby  left  in  her  shoe?  " 

"  That  was  Lawbit  and  Scratch,"  informed  the 
red-headed  craven,  mopping  his  forehead.  '  They 


322          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

dared  not  keep  the  bloomin'  stone,  when  they  had 
murdered  the  Prince " 

"  Wait !  "  commanded  Garrison.  "  You're  as  well 
aware  as  I  that  the  so-called  Maharajah  was  no  In- 
dian prince  whatever,  but  a  thief  who  stole  those 
gems  to  finance  insurrections.  You  know  he  was 
murdered  by  a  Hindoo  fanatic,  sent  to  get  the  ruby." 

Abbey  was  pale,  and  heavily  nodded  his  head. 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  don't  know  why — I  didn't  mean  to 
tell  you  anything  but  the  truth.  But  Lawbit  and 
Scratch  robbed  the  Hindoo  of  the  gems  and  let  him 
in  the  house,  where  he  was  later  killed.  The  fanatic, 
as  you  call  him,  did  the  rest.  Lawbit  was  frightened 
to  keep  the  stone — afraid  the  fanatic  would  get  him 
— and  we  sent  it  along  with  the  girl." 

Julian  rose. 

"  To  deflect  the  murderer's  attentions  to  her  or  to 
me!  Of  all  the  outrageous " 

Garrison  waved  him  a  gesture,  and  Julian  resumed 
his  seat. 

"  After  that,"  said  the  criminologist,  "  the  zealot, 
whose  name,  I  believe,  is  Dinga  Singh,  so  frightened 
all  you  intrepid  gentlemen  that  you  made  the  wild- 
est, most  desperate  efforts  to  recover  the  ruby 
again." 

"  Good  God ! "  said  Abbey,  profusely  perspiring 
with  fear,  "  hasn't  he  strangled  Lawbit  ?  And  I'll  go 
next,  I  assure  you,  gentlemen,  unless " 

"  You  stole  from  this  office  the  shoes  in  which 
you  had  hidden  the  stone? "  insisted  Garrison, 
calmly,  as  before. 


THE  SACRED  RUBY'S  SLAVE        323 

"Lawbit  did  the  work." 

"  And  finding  the  ruby  absent,  after  all,  you  en- 
ticed Mr.  Vail  down  country,  to  Hackett  Tides,  to 
make  him  assist  you  by  torture." 

Abbey  wriggled. 

"What  could  we  do?" 

Vail  leaned  forward  on  the  desk.  "  I  should  like 
to  inquire  right  now  whether  or  not  Miss  Lee  was 
ever  told  that  the  ruby  was  placed  in  her  shoe." 

Abbey  was  frankly  surprised. 

"  She  was  not,  of  course,  Mr.  Vail.  It  wouldn't 
do  to  permit " 

"  Then  what  is  the  power  that  you  and  others  of 
your  ilk  have  constantly  employed  to  compel  her  to 
do  as  you  wished?  " 

Abbey  had  the  grace  to  redden,  slightly. 

"  That  is  quite  another  matter.  She  would  prob- 
ably prefer  to  answer  that  herself." 

Vail  continued  with  the  questioning. 

"  Did  you  'phone  up  ahead  of  me  from  Hackett 
Tides  to  arrange  her  abduction  from  my  car  ?  " 

Abbey  was  uneasy. 

"  Somebody  had  to  get  on  the  job  directly." 

"  Mrs.  Cree  was  the  woman  who  carried  out  the 
trick?  " 

"  She  calls  herself  Mrs.  Cree." 

Garrison  volunteered  the  information  she  had  al- 
ways used  several  names. 

"  And  then,"  resumed  Julian,  "  you  took  Miss  Lee 
at  once  to  Lady  Kent's — who  is  doubtless  no  '  Lady ' 
whatsoever." 


THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

"  She's  a  Lady,  right  enough,  Mr.  Vail,  and  no 
worse  than  many  another." 

"  What  was  her  part  in  the  game,  when  I  was 
'doped,'  as  you  call  it,  with  tea?" 

Once  more  Mr.  Abbey  squirmed.  Only  his  hope 
for  mercy  induced  him  to  continue  his  confessions. 

"  She  had  nothing  to  do  with  that  part  of  the 
game.  That  was  mine — and  Scratch's — to  get  you 
to  rights  again  with  Lawbit." 

Garrison  nodded. 

"  Precisely  as  I  believed." 

Vail  continued :  "  To  get  me  to  rights  again  with 
Lawbit?  I  presume  that  means  subject  me  to  pres- 
sure, as  before,  at  the  hands  of  that  cheerful  per- 
son, to  compel  me  to  surrender  the  ruby  ?  " 

"  Quite  right.  And  if  only  you  could  appreciate, 
Mr.  Vail " 

"  Never  mind  that  at  present,"  interrupted  Julian. 
"  To  get  back  to  Lady  Kent.  Will  you  kindly  in- 
form me  what  her  interest  in  all  this  business  is? 
It  was  she  who  either  sent  or  took  Miss  Lee  to  the 
Comity  Ball?" 

"  We  managed  that  together." 

"  With  what  intent?  To  present  her  as  Lady  Con- 
stance Drew  to  Sir  Hugh  Pearson?  " 

"  Quite  right." 

"  Has  Miss  Lee  ever  been  a  party  to  the  scheme?  " 

Garrison  protested.  "  Oh,  my  dear  old  man,  I'm 
certain " 

Julian  waved  him  to  silence,  and  Abbey  shook  his 
head. 


THE  SACRED  RUBY'S  SLAVE        325 

"  No,  Mr.  Vail,  she  has  not." 

"  Has  it  ever  been  intended  to  make  Miss  Lee  a 
spy?" 

Abbey  was  again  surprised. 

"  Certainly  not." 

"  Why  was  she  presented  to  Pearson  as  Lady  Con- 
stance Drew?  " 

Once  more  the  ex-gentleman  reddened.  "  Because, 
sir,  now  that  her  uncle  is  dead,  she's — I  mean  to  say 
that  was  part  of  Lady  Kent's  game." 

"  A  game  to  entangle  that  gentleman,  perhaps, 
in  a  false  alliance  ?  " 

Abbey  writhed,  with  impatience  and  shame. 

"  It  was  Lady  Kent  originated  that." 

"  What  did  you  start  to  say  about  the  death  of 
Miss  Lee's  uncle?" 

"  Nothing.     I  mean  that's  her  private  concern," 

"  And  where  is  Lady  Kent  ?  " 

"  The  Lord  only  knows — she's  fled." 

"  She  also  exercised  some  power  over  Miss  Lee," 
Julian  continued.  "  It  must  have  been  supplied  by 
you.  I  demand  to  know  what  this  power  is  that 
you  have  wielded?  " 

Abbey  whitened  about  the  gills. 

"  That,  Mr.  Vail,  I  must  refuse." 

Julian  rose,  as  if  to  strike  the  cringing  man  before 
him. 

"  I  told  you  I  demand  this  information." 

Abbey  slumped  down  on  his  knees. 

"  I  beg  you — don't  insist  on  that,  Mr.  Vail !  I 
haven't  kept  faith  with  anyone.  I'm  a  miserable 


326          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

knave  and  a  coward!  I've  disgraced  my  blood  and 
the  men  that  went  before  me.  I'm  afraid  to  face  the 
music  like  a  man.  I've  told  you  everything  but  this, 
Mr.  Vail,  and  I  beg  you  to  pass  that  by.  I've  done 
no  murders,  stolen  no  gems,  but  Dinga  Singh  is  a 
terrible  man  from  whom  I  can  never  escape ! 

"  Give  me  the  ruby !  Tell  me  where  it  is !  Send 
me  to  jail  if  you  like,  but  let  me  give  it  him  back, 
or  I  shall  be  strangled!  The  stone  isn't  yours,  nor 
Mr.  Garrison's.  It  doesn't  belong  to  the  law — or 
to  anyone  here  in  New  York !  Let  him  have  it  again 
and  take  it  away — or  I'm  doomed — I'm  doomed! 
I'm  doomed ! " 

The  fellow  was  sobbing.  His  abject  fear  was  a 
terrible  thing  to  see.  He  clutched  at  the  hem  of 
Julian's  coat  and  clung  there  like  the  wretched  cow- 
ard he  had  become. 

"  Good  heavens ! "  said  Vail,  wrenching  loose  at 
last  and  moving  a  step  towards  the  vase.  "  I've 
never  wanted  the  ruby — the  accursed  stone  would 
be  well  away  from  America!  But  to  give  it  to 
you " 

"  No  !  No  !  Not  to  me !  Let  me  tell  him  where  it 
is?  Let  me  merely  send  him  word  that  he  may  have 
it  back?  You're  not  safe  an  hour  while  you  keep 
it,  Mr.  Vail!  I  swear  to  you,  sir,  that's  the  truth! 
The  gem  is  a  sacred  stone!" 

Julian  flamed. 

"  Sacred,  nonsense ! — a  sacred  ruby !  What  is  it 
but  a  lifeless  bit  of  crystal? — a  piece  of  polished 
dross?  And  what  about  a  human  heart? — the  heart 


THE  SACRED  RUBY'S  SLAVE        327 

of  a  beautiful  girl,  for  a  sacred  treasure  worthy  the 
meaning  of  the  word?  I've  no  use  for  the  stone! 
Garrison,  it's  time  you  took  it  away !  The  law  can 
decide  whose  property  it  is,  for  I'll  carry  the  burden 
no  longer ! " 

He  caught  up  the  vase,  quite  empty  of  water, 
flung  out  the  withered  flowers,  and  dumped  the  huge 
gem  on  his  desk. 

One  second  it  lay  there,  banefully  gleaming,  its 
refulgent  depths  like  crystallized  fire  and  petrified 
wine  and  blood.  One  second  the  fascinated  Abbey 
stared  upon  it,  dumbly. 

Then  came  an  amazing  climax  to  the  hour. 

A  strange,  wild  cry  filled  the  room.  The  cover 
flew  off  from  the  monster  box  in  the  corner  and  out 
leaped  a  fire-eyed  demon,  clean  mad  with  fanatical 
fury. 

It  was  Dinga  Singh,  the  East  Indian  zealot,  who 
had  slain  two  men  for  blocking  his  way  to  the  stone. 

In  a  single  pounce  he  was  at  the  desk  and  snatch- 
ing the  ruby  to  his  breast. 

He  bowled  both  Vail  and  Garrison  from  his  path, 
the  detective  going  down  by  the  desk.  He  cried  out 
again,  in  some  crazy  exultation  and  bounded  to  the 
door. 

He  flung  it  open,  brandishing  a  flame-shaped  blade 
of  steel,  and  was  instantly  darting  down  the  hall. 

Garrison  was  swiftly  on  his  feet.  He,  too,  gave  a 
cry,  and  he  and  Vail  were  in  pursuit. 

They  were  barely  in  time  at  the  elevator  shafts 
to  see  their  man  leaping  down  the  stairs. 


328          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

They  were  ten  flights  up,  and  one  car  only  com- 
ing, from  seven  floors  above. 

Garrison  shouted  for  the  car  with  all  his  might, 
while  Vail  plunged  hotly  down  the  stairs.  He  was 
far  behind  the  desperate  Singh,  whom  only  the  car 
could  possibly  catch  before  he  could  gain  the  bottom 
floor. 

The  car  was  descending  rapidly,  in  response  to 
Garrison's  shouts. 

But  the  Hindoo's  plan  was  complete.  Suddenly 
halting  at  one  of  the  doors,  where  an  elevator's  cable 
hung  motionless  from  the  top  to  the  basement  of  the 
building,  he  slipped  in  his  hand  and  flung  it  open 
as  if  by  long  practice  at  the  lock. 

Even  as  Vail  came  racing  down  the  stairs,  and  the 
car  with  Garrison  started  to  drop,  the  black  man 
leaped  for  the  cables.  They  were  barely  three  feet 
out  from  his  stand,  hanging  straight  in  the  center 
of  the  shaft. 

He  clung  to  them  precisely  like  a  monkey,  sway- 
ing for  a  second  with  their  oscillation,  then  down  he 
shot,  as  a  fireman  slides  on  his  polished  rod,  the 
grease  hotly  smoking  on  his  clothes. 

He  struck  like  a  plummet  on  top  of  the  car  that 
was  halted  for  the  hour  in  the  basement.  Its  top  was 
about  at  the  level  of  the  floor  that  led  to  the  hall  and 
street. 

One  wrench  with  his  powerful  hand  and  wrist  sent 
the  door  banging  back  with  a  vibrant  jar,  and  he 
darted  madly  out  past  the  starter. 

Garrison's  car  had  raced  at  full  speed  to  the  bot- 


THE  SACRED  RUBY'S  SLAVE        329 

torn.  It  had  certainly  been  less  than  five  floors  away 
when  Dinga  was  dashing  from  the  building. 

Garrison,  dancing  with  impatience,  saw  the  oper- 
ator fail  to  throw  back  his  lever  in  time.  The  car 
dropped  half  its  length  below  the  floor  before  it 
came  to  a  halt.  It  was  back  in  a  jot,  but  the  trifling 
delay  was  never  to  be  recovered. 

Hardly  less  quickly  than  Singh  himself,  Garrison 
darted  outward  to  the  street.  But  up  or  down,  or 
near  or  far,  there  was  not  a  sign  of  his  man.  Run- 
ning here  to  a  boy  and  there  to  a  porter,  wildly 
asking  questions  of  both,  the  criminologist  vainly 
sought  help — and  presently  knew  he  was  beaten. 


CHAPTER  XXXIX 

BARBARA'S  DOCUMENTS 

VAIL  came  belated  to  the  sidewalk,  already  con- 
vinced of  their  defeat.  He  had  given  up  hope 
when  the  Hindoo  took  to  the  cables  and  scorched 
down  the  well  like  a  fiend. 

He  presently  found  the  criminologist,  still  rooting 
around  in  vain  regret.  By  the  look  of  chagrin  on 
Garrison's  face  he  felt  they  had  probably  seen  the 
last  of  Singh  and  the  great  Gatama  ruby. 

"  As  clean  and  quick  a  get-away  as  ever  hap- 
pened!" was  Garrison's  just,  if  somewhat  mournful, 
comment.  "  Take  it  all  in  all  it  was  certainly 
*  slick '  in  every  meaning  of  the  phrase.  I'm  clean 
ashamed ! " 

"  I'm  clean  relieved,"  was  Julian's  reply.  "  The 
ruby  wasn't  ours,  nor  the  law's,  as  Abbey  truthfully 
suggested." 

"  Abbey !  "  cried  Garrison,  suddenly.  "  We've 
lost  that  gentleman,  too !  " 

And,  hastening  at  once  to  gain  a  car,  he  was  pres- 
ently darting  to  the  office,  to  confirm  his  latest  fear. 
Mr.  Abbey  had  certainly  departed.  There  was  no 
one  present  but  Broughton,  who  had  entered  at  the 
sounds  of  haste  when  the  man  from  the  box  had  fled. 
He  had  seen  not  so  much  as  the  heels  of  the  red- 

330 


BARBARA'S  DOCUMENTS  331 

headed  Briton  who  had  come  here  to  beg  for  his 
life. 

"  I'll  get  him !  I'll  get  him  again,  by  George  !  " 
said  Garrison,  emphatically.  "  I'll  not  be  cheated 
of  them  all !  "  He  started  at  once  to  set  his  ma- 
chinery in  motion,  but  Julian  caught  him  by  the 
shoulder. 

"  Never  mind  Abbey — let  him  go.  There  is  some- 
thing of  far  greater  importance.  I  want  to  know, 
Garrison,  what  became  of  some  papers  I  found  in 
that  armory  room  last  night?  My  one  hope  is  that 
you  got  them." 

"  Papers?  What  sort  of  papers?  "  Garrison  asked 
him,  at  once.  "  I  haven't  had  time  to  ask  you  yet 
what  you  did  at  that  house  last  night." 

Vail  was  enabled  to  render  a  decidedly  lucid,  if 
brief,  account  of  everything  done  before  he  fell, 
after  dragging  Nettleton  out  to  the  top  of  the  steps. 

"  I  am  certain  I  pocketed  an  envelope,  sealed,  and 
wrapped  with  tape,"  he  concluded.  "  As  a  matter  of 
fact,  I  may  as  well  confess  I  went  to  the  place  to 
secure  it.  I  feel  convinced  the  documents  are  of 
vital  importance  to  Barbara.  I  can  scarcely  face 
her  without  them.  I  have  lived  on  the  hope  that 
you  secured  them,  after  I  was  taken  to  the  station. 
If  the  fellow  I  fought  returned  and  got  them,  after 
all " 

"  Hold  up,"  said  Garrison,  quietly  interrupting. 
"  You  were  probably  searched  at  the  station,  as 
everyone  is  who  arrives  there  under  arrest.  Let  me 
get  them  on  the  'phone."  He  reached  for  the  instru- 


332          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

ment  and  presently  demanded  a  number.  "You 
see,"  he  resumed,  while  awaiting  his  connection,  "  the 
blue-coats  took  you  for  a  thief.  Nettleton  they 
know.  He  was  lying  unconscious  at  the  top  of  the 
steps,  and  naturally Hello,  there,  hello ! " 

The  answer  had  come  to  his  call. 

"  Is  that  you,  Sergeant  Duffy  ?  .  .  .  Yes,  this  is 
Garrison.  .  .  .  Say,  last  night  you  fellows  had  Mr. 
Julian  Vail  there,  charged  with  being — never  mind 
the  charge.  You  had  him,  and  'phoned  to  me.  I 
want  you  to  find  out  immediately  whether  or  not  he 
was  searched,  and,  if  so,  whether  papers  were  found 
in  his  possession — a  large  sealed  envelope — and,  if 
so,  where  that  envelope  is  at  the  present  moment. 
t.  .  .  All  right,  I'll  wait." 

He  turned  to  Vail  as  before.  "  Nettleton  is  going 
to  recover,  thanks  to  that  hole  you  opened  in  the 
cellar  and  your  efforts  in  getting  him  out.  Valu- 
able man  to  me.  Did  you  say  that  the  fellow  you 
encountered  had  rifled  the  trunk  when  you  came  ?  " 

"  Pitched  everything  out  on  the  floor." 

"  After  those  papers  himself,  of  course.  He  must 
have  thought  them  important.  And,  by  the  way,  any 
further  developments  from  Gardner,  since  our  little 
seance  at  the  Puryns'  ?  " 

"  I  cleaned  him  up  at  noon,  when  he  thought  he 
had  me  ruined." 

"  I  told  you  he  had  inside  information  when  the 
frame-up  was  worked  on  your  birthday.  Miss  Enid 

Puryn  had  him  posted,  to  complete  her  little 

Yes,  yes,  Duffy.  ...  ..  .  Hello!" 


BARBARA'S  DOCUMENTS  333 

He  cast  a  glance  at  Julian,  then  turned  again  to 
the  telephone. 

"  You've  got  it  ? — you've  found  ...  I  didn't 
say  it  was  marked  with  Mr.  Vail's  name.  .  .  .  It's 
marked,  '  Miss  Barbara  Lee,'  or  ...  Right !  It 
was  taken  from  his  pocket.  Hold  it  for  me  and  I'll 
be  there  in  fifteen  minutes ! " 

Vail  had  leaped  to  his  feet  and  caught  up  his 
hat. 

"  They've  found  it,  all  right?  " 

"  They  have,  the  blundering  idiots — not  to  have 
told  me  at  once!  Will  you  'phone  to  Miss  Lee  be- 
fore we  go?  " 

"  Not  till  I  get  it  in  my  hand." 

He  was  already  moving  for  the  door,  and  Gar- 
rison swiftly  followed. 

In  even  less  time  than  Garrison  had  promised,  his 
car  had  fetched  them  to  the  station. 

The  envelope  was  there  at  the  Sergeant's  desk  and 
was  formally  surrendered.  Then  Julian  fled  to  the 
telephone,  to  report  his  bit  of  news. 

His  brief  appeal  to  Barbara  not  to  run  away,  no 
matter  what  the  envelope  contained,  aroused  such  a 
joy  that  much  of  the  nervous  dread  and  apprehen- 
sion she  felt  was  driven  from  her  brave  little  heart. 

"  I  won't  run  away,"  she  answered,  at  the  end, 
"  but  perhaps  you .  .  .  I'm  almost  afraid — but  it's 
got  to  be  faced,  of  course.  .  .  .  You'll  come  as  soon 
as  you  can?  " 

Vail  and  the  criminologist  were  soon  once  more  in 
the  car. 


334          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

"  I  think,"  said  Garrison,  naively,  "  I'll  take  my 
wife  for  a  ride." 

If  Julian  understood  the  delicacy  of  the  hint,  that 
the  house  would  be  left  to  himself  and  Barbara,  he 
made  no  particular  sign. 

He  merely  said,  "  I  have  wondered  when  you  took 
your  recreation,  or  gave  your  wife  a  moment  of  your 
time." 

"  Some  day,"  said  Garrison,  into  whose  eyes  had 
come  a  wonderful  light,  "  I'll  tell  you  all  about  the 
romance  of  Dorothy  and  myself." 

It  was  four  o'clock  when  they  came  to  his  house, 
where  Barbara  was  watching  from  the  window. 

She  was  pale,  with  some  feeling  of  the  moment's 
fatality  for  both  their  lives  and  happiness,  and  the 
sealed  uncertainty  contained  within  the  parcel  when 
he  read  her  the  inscription  on  the  envelope  for  which 
she  had  hunted  in  vain. 

"  For  my  Daughter,  Barbara  Lee, 
The  sole  and  only  issue  of  my 
body,  to  be  opened  by  her  at 
my  demise. 

"  HENBY  LEE." 

She  made  no  effort  to  speak  as  she  took  it  in  her 
hand,  but  she  trembled  with  emotion  and  excitement. 

Julian  understood. 

"  You  will  doubtless  prefer  to  read  it  by  yourself," 
he  said.  "  I  will  wait  till  you  return.  Meantime — 
God  be  with  you,  little  friend,  and  bring  you  the 
fortune  you  deserve." 


BARBARA'S  DOCUMENTS  335 

He  kissed  her  hand,  and,  with  brimming  eyes,  she 
fled. 

Garrison,  as  good  as  his  word,  had  readily  coaxed 
his  wife  from  the  house  for  a  treat  in  the  open  air. 
The  big  bright  room  where  Julian  waited  overlooked 
the  street,  with  the  Park  just  over  the  way. 

Julian  stood  there  gazing  forth  and  awaiting  the 
fate  that  the  hour  must  finally  bring. 


CHAPTER  XL 

\ 

THE    VITAL   MOMENT 

WHAT  time  had  actually  sped,  by  the  clock, 
Vail  never  really  knew.  It  seemed  to  him  a 
century  dragged  its  weary  length  across  the  world. 

His  wildest  imaginings  had  come  into  play  to  peo- 
ple the  house  with  sinister  forms  that  would  crowd 
between  him  and  his  love.  He  was  certain  that  Bar- 
bara had  happened  on  something  that  neither  she 
nor  he  could  ever  bear  to  face.  He  was  torn  with 
regret  at  the  thought  that,  with  the  papers  in  his 
hands,  he  had  weakly  surrendered  to  the  fates. 

Had  he  burned  them  unopened  and  scattered  the 
ashes  to  the  winds,  no  power  on  earth,  he  argued  to 
himself,  could  have  kept  him  and  Barbara  apart. 

He  had  paced  up  and  down  the  apartment  times 
without  number,  listening  for  any  possible  sound 
where  Barbara  had  gone.  He  began  to  fear  she  had 
fled  the  house  and  gone,  and  was  oscillating  there 
in  indecision  when  she  finally  came  to  the  door. 

He  hastened  across  the  floor  to  greet  her. 

She  watched  him,  faintly  smiling.  She  had  wept, 
and  her  eyes  were  still  brimming.  In  her  hand  she 
held  a  number  of  tear-stained  documents,  disordered 
and  crumpled. 


THE  VITAL  MOMENT  337 

"  If  you  want  me  to  come,  when  you've  read 
them,"  she  said,  "  just  give  a  little  whistle,  up 
the  stairs." 

She  thrust  the  lot  in  his  eager  hands,  and  once 
more  fled  to  an  upper  apartment. 

"  But,  wait !  "  he  implored.  "  Can't  you  tell  me 
just  as  well?" 

She  shook  her  head. 

"  Please  read  them."     And  she  was  gone. 

He  carried  the  papers  to  the  window  and  read 
them  swiftly,  uttering  now  and  again  a  sound  of 
indignation. 

The  written  sheets  set  forth  an  extraordinary  tale. 

It  was  the  story  of  the  life  and  sufferings  of  Bar- 
bara's father.  Briefly,  the  man  was  the  second  son 
of  Earl  Harkingby,  Augustus-Francis  Drew,  whose 
elder  son,  a  profligate  young  rascal,  had  utterly  dis- 
graced himself  and  family,  finally  committing  a 
forgery  for  which  imprisonment  was  imminent. 

In  one  of  those  incredible  impulses  of  sacrifices, 
possible  only  in  the  noble  families  of  the  older  world, 
where  blood  and  tradition  are  paramount,  and  the 
title's  honor  a  fetish  to  be  kept  at  any  price,  Bar- 
bara's father  had  taken  the  guilt  upon  himself,  con- 
fessed to  a  crime  of  his  brother's  doing,  and  served 
a  term  to  satisfy  the  law. 

He  had  been  released  when  his  term  expired,  and 
had  instantly  departed  the  realm,  making  America 
his  home  and  assuming  but  part  of  the  family  name, 
by  which  he  could  never  be  known.  He  had  finally 
married  an  American  lady  of  refinement,  and  with 


338          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

her  had  been  happy  for  a  few  brief  years,  till  she 
died. 

Barbara  "  Lee,"  his  only  surviving  daughter,  had 
been  religiously  kept  in  ignorance  of  the  blot  on  the 
family  escutcheon  and  her  father's  abandoned  name. 

At  length  had  come  one  Willard  Abbey,  a  fellow 
Englishman,  himself  of  an  old,  distinguished  family, 
and  a  dissolute  associate  of  Earl  Harkingby's  elder 
son.  This  man,  having  discovered  in  "  Henry  Lee  " 
the  second  son  of  the  Earl,  had  blackmailed  him  con- 
sistently for  years,  with  threats  of  revealing  the  past. 

From  Abbey,  "  Lee  "  had  fled  repeatedly,  no  more 
to  avoid  being  impovferished  than  to  remove  his 
daughter  from  possible  contact  with  the  fellow. 

After  long  deliberation,  countless  misgivings, 
Henry  Lee  had  determined  to  set  forth  the  facts  and 
inclose  the  affidavits  for  Barbara's  final  perusal.  The 
man's  reluctance  in  acquainting  his  child  with  all 
these  lamentable  facts,  was  written  large  between  the 
lines.  His  question  of  the  honor,  profit,  or  advantage 
of  linking  her  name  and  identity  at  last  with  that  of 
the  ancient  family  that  had  flowered  in  his  'brother 
had  long  been  present  in  his  mind. 

"  Yet  if  only  one  day  to  free  her  spirit  of  the 
doubts  it  may  have  entertained,"  said  the  script,  "  I 
must  hazard  the  pain  she  must  experience  to  know 
what  her  father  has  been,  and  give  her  both  the  dis- 
tress and  the  negative  comfort  of  this  confession  of 
family  facts." 

Brief  mention  was  made  of  the  various  towns  where 
the  man  had  made  his  home,  Appended  to  that  was 


THE  VITAL  MOMENT  339 

a  short,  clearly  stated  history  of  all  the  Harking- 
bys,  even  including  a  brief  synopsis  of  the  original 
patent  by  which  the  title  was  created.  And  this, 
with  the  lands  and  possessions  appurtenant  thereto 
having,  as  the  statement  set  forth,  been  "  entailed  to 
the  heirs,  male  or  female,  of  the  first  Earl's  body,  law- 
fully begotten,"  could  possibly  descend  to  Barbara 
and  create  her  a  Countess  thereby. 

It  was  not  this  possibility,  however,  despite  the 
fact  he  suddenly  remembered  that  Abbey  had  let  slip 
the  fact  that  Barbara's  uncle  was  dead,  that  brought 
Vail  suddenly  to  his  feet. 

He  understood  everything  at  last — the  fears  that 
Barbara  must  have  entertained,  aware  of  some  dark 
family  secret,  constantly  dreaded — and  the  loyalty 
of  her  spirit  in  guarding  her  father's  name — the 
courage  with  which  she  would  have  sacrificed  herself 
and  love  rather  than  bring  a  sullied  name  to  any  man 
she  might  finally  marry. 

Vail  could  wait  for  no  whistles  or  quiet  signs  that 
would  summon  her  back  to  his  side. 

"  Barbara — Barbara !  "  he  called. 

She  came  to  the  head  of  the  stairs  and  started 
down. 

He  ran  halfway  up  to  meet  her. 

"  Sweetheart "  he  started,  as  he  caught  at 

both  her  hands. 

She  held  him  off. 

"You've  read  it  all?" 

"  Enough  to  know  what  a  wonderful  little  woman 
you  are — your  father's  loyal  little  defender!  But 


340          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

the  worst  of  it  is,  your  uncle's  dead.  You're  the 
Countess  Barbara — something !  M 

Her  eyes  were  very  wide  at  that,  and  the  smile 
departed  from  her  lips. 

"  Oh,  but  I'd  rather  not,  Julian — please.  I'd 
rather  be  just — your  little  Friend." 

He  caught  her  abruptly  to  his  heart,  two  soft 
lips  on  his  own.  He  released  her,  just  for  a  second, 
to  look  in  her  eyes,  then  clasp  her  as  before. 

"  Barbara,  my  little  mate ! "  he  said.  "  My  little 
friend — forever ! " 


CHAPTER  XLI 

EDEN 

IT  was  nearly  a  week  before  at  last  a  letter  came 
from  Willard  Abbey  to  explain  that  Lady 
Kent,  having  come  to  New  York  with  authentic 
news  of  the  death  of  Barbara's  uncle,  plus  inside 
knowledge  of  Henry  "  Lee's "  history  and  fam- 
ily affairs,  had  hoped  to  turn  it  to  her  personal 
account. 

She  had  done  no  more  than  take  advantage 
of  Barbara's  fear  of  her  father's  past  affairs 
and  present  her  to  Sir  Hugh  Pearson  as  Lady 
Constance  Drew,  which  name  would  be  hers,  in 
addition  to  others,  on  succession  to  the  titles  and 
estates. 

This  letter  had  purposely  been  delayed  while  Ab- 
bey raised  funds  to  escape  from  the  land  and  return 
to  European  fields. 

A  month  from  the  day  Vail  saw  him  last,  by  a 
queer,  if  unimportant  coincidence,  two  related  events 
transpired. 

Julian  and  Barbara  were  married  and  the  New 
York  Evening  Star  contained  the  following  bit  of 
telegraphic  news: 

341 


342          THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 

"  GATAMA  RUBY  BACK  IN  HOLY  TEMPLE 

"  Bombay,  India,  June  23. — After  several  months 
of  absence  from  the  ancient  Kindure  temple,  in  the 
Punjaub,  the  great  Gatama  ruby,  so  mysteriously 
spirited  away,  has  been  returned  to  the  holy  shrine. 
A  few  days  ago,  it  is  authentically  alleged,  the  price- 
less stone  was  restored  to  the  image  of  Buddha,  where 
countless  millions  of  Indian  souls  have  cringed  in  su- 
perstitious dread,  or  knelt  in  transcendent  ecstasy 
and  fervor. 

"  Readers  of  the  Star  will  recall  our  exclusive  ac- 
count of  the  murder  of  a  Maharajah  in  this  city  in 
May,  when  this  famous  gem  was  stolen.  The  mys- 
tery of  the  ruby's  presence  in  America,  and  of  the 
crimes  its  possession  entailed,  and  of  the  methods 
whereby  it  was  finally  restored  as  above  related,  has 
never  been,  and  doubtless  never  will  be,  fully  re- 
lated." 

The  account  might  have  added  that  one 
"  Scratch "  Parkinson,  all-round  crook  and  con- 
scienceless scoundrel,  having  failed  to  obtain  the 
great  Gatama  ruby,  for  return  to  Dinga  Singh,  had 
fled  from  Gotham,  late  one  balmy  night,  taking 
steamer  for  the.  Argentine  Republic,  whence  he 
never  more  meant  to  return,  The  story,  however, 


EDEN  343 

was  fairly  complete  without  this  crumb  of  com- 
fort. 

Out  of  his  world  of  wanderings  and  eccentricity 
the  lone  and  silent  skipper  of  a  motor-boat, 
christened  the  Kelpie,  sent  a  singular  wedding 
gift. 

It  was  a  fair-sized  bronze  propeller,  broken,  but 
highly  polished  and  suitably  engraved. 

This  was  the  legend  on  the  blade: 

To 

JULE  AND  BARBARA 

from 

Jim  and  Kelpie 
Good  Luck 

Perhaps  it  was  this  that  reminded  the  pair  that 
Eden  might  possibly  lie  off  alone,  entirely  surrounded 
by  water. 

Whatsoever  it  was,  as  a  prelude  to  their  honey- 
moon abroad,  they  came  by  themselves,  on  a  sunny 
afternoon,  to  a  bit  of  an  island,  set  in  the  sea  like 
a  priceless  jewel  of  grass  and  trees,  and  were  mar- 
velously  filled  with  nature's  joy. 

And  they  stood  out  at  night,  with  the  stars  and 
the  tides  reflecting  the  glories  of  their  love. 

Barbara  nestled  against  his  side  in  the  absolute 
sweetness  of  surrender. 


344 


THE  HOUSE  OF  IRON  MEN 


"  I'm  so  happy,"  she  said,  "  I  don't  know  what  to 
say." 

"  I  do,"  Vail  answered,  folding  her  close  in  his 
arms,  " — my  wondrous  little  Gift  of  the  Godsl " 


A    000  133  504     1 


